Mickelson captures first Masters

The Hot Corner

Phil Mickelson entered the final round of the Masters tied for the lead at six strokes under par, a mere 18 holes away from winning his first major championship. However, many avid golf followers who sat in front of their television sets Sunday afternoon were waiting for Mickelson’s customary meltdown, rather than his victory celebration.

They were left disappointed, as Mickelson won his first major championship in 47 career attempts. After finishing in the top three on eight different occasions, “Lefty”finally did it.

Losing late in majors has been Mickelson’s Achilles’ Heel for years. He’s been regarded as one of the top five professional golfers in the world, but when push came to shove, he always came up short. It became the monkey on his back.

Sunday afternoon, Mickelson changed all that. He was walking up from the 16th green when the announcement flashed across the television screen: Ernie Els had finished his tournament at eight under par and was tied for the lead with Mickelson.

“Lefty” must have received the news at the same time as television viewers — he took on the look of a man who would not be denied his victory.

He parred the 17th hole, leaving him tied with Els with one hole left to play. As Mickelson approached the 18th tee, he was met by a standing ovation from the crowd at Augusta National.

Everyone was pulling for Mickelson to win. It wasn’t just his caddy and Mickelson’s family — the golf nation wanted him to pull this one out, even the television commentators wanted to see Mickelson don the Masters champion green jacket and punch a victorious fist into the air. It would be the golf feel-good story of the year.

I wanted Phil Mickelson to win this tournament.

For years “Lefty” has been the butt of bad golf jokes. He has been the epitome of cracking under pressure and not getting the job done when it counted the most. This reputation has grown with every passing major that Mickelson has failed to win.

No one cares that he has won 22 tournaments in his professional career, or that he has been one of the most consistent players in the world. All fans have cared about was that he couldn’t win a major tournament — all they have cared about was that he had that label.

In short, Phil Mickelson was a modern day version of “The Scarlet Letter’s” Hester Prynn, branded with a label that he couldn’t get rid of. And try as he might, “Lefty” always came just short of achieving greatness. He was never good enough to shed the label “the best player never to win a major.”

Until now.

This time Mickelson would not fall apart. This time,“Lefty” would come through and seal the deal.

And so on Easter Sunday, on the 18th green, Mickelson’s birdie putt for victory just had left his club when the shouts could be heard from the crowd at Augusta National.

“Get in the hole!”

His 18-foot putt caught the lip of the left-hand side of the cup and rolled around the outside of the hole.

We all held our collective breath; no one said this would be easy.

And, when it finally dropped through, there was “Lefty,” arms raised in triumphant relief. He hugged his caddy, kissed the golf ball that catapulted him into history and then tossed it into the crowd. He had earned his first major golf championship.

Phil Mickelson had finally silenced his critics.

James Irwin is a sophomore SMAD major who believes that Mickelson’s victory reminds us that great stories can come from the world of sports.