Phil Mickelson Takes the Masters: A Putter's Poetic Justice by Elizabeth Searle

Old hand Phil Mickelson snatched the green jacket and Master’s title from Tiger Woods. Of course, Tiger still qualified– after facing down doubts that he would implode in the middle stretch of the tournament– but he seemed sullen in his post-match interviews.

Mickelson, meanwhile, received warm hugs from his longtime Caddy Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay and his wife of 30 years.

Despite rumors already surfacing that Mickelson has had his share of scandals, there was no mistakening the rousing response from the crowd or the sense that a ‘putter’s’ version ‘poetic justice’ was in the air.

As Tiger has been learning in his Buddhism studies, and is now learning firsthand in life, struggle is constant.  Change happens. The green jacket does pass on, just as the surreal grass of a putting green cannot retain its color.

Will Tiger Woods ever again attain his former glory? Or is mortality catching up with him too, a little earlier than it might have had he not overplayed his lucky hand? Of course, this slight setback may only energize Tiger for future feats. And no doubt Mickelson will take some hits in his moment in the spotlight.

But from here, for this watcher, it felt right to see this shift in Tiger’s kingdom. Congrat.s to Mickelson and to those who’ve stood by him for years, his wife and family and his loyal caddy ‘Bones.’  We all come down to bones in the end, Tiger.  And it’s only a game…

(photos: images.students.ou.edu, blackchristiannews.com)