Woods: golf rivalries not in the cards
By MEL REISNER / AP Sports Writer
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson. A
rivalry to revive the Palmer vs. Nicklaus duels? Not if you listen
to Woods, which everyone does these days.
"I don't ever see it developing quite like that because
there are so many good players now," Woods says. "Young
players all around the same age - myself, Ernie Els, Phil, David
Duval, Steve Stricker, Justin Leonard. I mean, it goes on and
on. It's very hard for just two of them to be singled out."
His theory will be tested this week at the TPC of Scottsdale.
Mickelson, who won four of his 10 PGA Tour titles last year
and finished second in earnings, is the defending champion of
the Phoenix Open. The 26-year-old left-hander broke through at
his home tournament by beating Leonard in a three-hole playoff.
All of 21, Woods has won three times in nine tour events, including
the Mercedes Championships two weeks ago. He has earned more than
$1 million in the quickest start in history and draws crowds everywhere.
So far, Woods and Mickelson have yet to go head-to-head down
the stretch. But the ingredients for a rivalry are there.
"It takes a little bit of time to develop something like
that, so I don't know," Mickelson said. "We both need
to keep playing well for that to happen, but it would be kind
of cool if it did."
They aren't paired the first two days. Mickelson will tee off
Thursday morning in the company of Scott Hoch and John Morse.
Woods' threesome includes Bob Tway and two-time Phoenix champion
Mark Calcavecchia.
But no one would be surprised to see Mickelson and Woods striding
the fairways together through the weekend.
Last year, the tournament ended on a Saturday so it wouldn't
conflict with the Super Bowl the next day in nearby Tempe.
Most of those watching were cheering Mickelson in a raucous
display that unnerved Leonard. Woods has heard all about it.
"I wish it didn't happen, the fact that people were yelling
on downswings," he said. "I don't care if anybody goes
crazy or roots against us, roots for us, after the shot is gone.
That's fine. But they shouldn't scream or yell during our golf
swings."
On Tuesday, Woods learned a little more about Phoenix crowds.
With just one police officer to accompany him off the 18th green
after a practice round, fans jostled him on his unprotected side.
One poked him just under the eye with a magazine.
As a result, Woods' police escort was quadrupled. Still, he
regards the crowds as a welcome wave of the future.
"Let's face it: We don't get the fans like we do in football
or basketball in that kind of numbers," he said. "Over
the long haul, the tour is going to benefit from that. Our purses
are going to increase, our visibility is going to get better and
our sport is going to grow."
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