Phil Mickelson: A Hated Man?
Thursday January 26, 2006
Phil Mickelson is one of the three most popular golfers in the world with spectators. Only Tiger Woods and John Daly match Mickelson in the level of adulation heaped on him by golf fans. The fans love Lefty.
But his peers do not. That's long been known to media members who cover golf, and to fans who are connoisseurs of PGA Tour gossip. Mickelson battles Sergio Garcia, among others, when it comes to the title of Tour player least-liked by other golfers.
Still, it's a surprise to see someone whose public persona is so cheerful, someone who is so loved by fans, show up on a list of "The Ten Most Hated Athletes." But that's exactly where Mickelson shows up - at No. 8 - in the most recent issue of GQ magazine.
Here's what the magazine's article says about how Mickelson is viewed by his peers:
Of course, some of the anti-Phil feeling on Tour may stem from the fact that Mickelson is better than all but 2-3 other guys out there, and that he is truly loved by fans. On the other hand, this behind-the-scenes chatter has been consistent throughout Mickelson's career.
On the opposite end of the scale is Vijay Singh, who has never been very popular with fans - but is one of the most well-liked players on Tour.
But his peers do not. That's long been known to media members who cover golf, and to fans who are connoisseurs of PGA Tour gossip. Mickelson battles Sergio Garcia, among others, when it comes to the title of Tour player least-liked by other golfers.
Still, it's a surprise to see someone whose public persona is so cheerful, someone who is so loved by fans, show up on a list of "The Ten Most Hated Athletes." But that's exactly where Mickelson shows up - at No. 8 - in the most recent issue of GQ magazine.
Here's what the magazine's article says about how Mickelson is viewed by his peers:
Last August at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, in New Jersey, a reporter turned to a golfer on the tour and said of Phil Mickelson, "Man, the fans here love Phil." The golfer replied, "They don't know him the way we do." It blew our minds a little when we heard this, since Mickelson ranks among the most admired golfers in America. But today the same reporter makes his case bluntly: "Phil Mickelson literally has no friends out there. He annoys everybody."Notice those ellipses after "FIGJAM"? The GQ article explained what that stands for, but it contains a word we can't reproduce here. But the five words following that first word are "... I'm good -- just ask me." (Read the article if you want to see the dirty word in print - but I'm guessing you know what the "F" stands for.)
Mickelson has earned many nicknames on the Tour, but our favorite is FIGJAM ... "There are a bunch of pros who think he and his whole smiley, happy face are a fraud," another reporter says. "They think he's preening and insincere."
Of course, some of the anti-Phil feeling on Tour may stem from the fact that Mickelson is better than all but 2-3 other guys out there, and that he is truly loved by fans. On the other hand, this behind-the-scenes chatter has been consistent throughout Mickelson's career.
On the opposite end of the scale is Vijay Singh, who has never been very popular with fans - but is one of the most well-liked players on Tour.
Comments
I find it hard to believe that so much of the critism on Phil Mickelson actually came from people that have actually seen him in person. I had an opportunity to see him at Pebble Beach and found him to be so courteous and polite to the fans, marshals and other staff. If it was a put on, so what!! At least he pretended to care about the people that were there. I certainly can’t say that about Tiger Woods. I saw him at Pinehurst and wished that I had saved my money. What a self-centered, conceited, all-mighty jerk!! He never even pretended to be cordial to any of the fans or staff. Instead he was escorted around like God himself and never so much as nodded to staff, fans or other players. Even his place on the driving range was away from the other players. I understand that some fans can be a pain in the neck, but his superior air was a real turn off. Give me a phony anytime if I’m paying my hard-earned money to see them. At least I came away with tired feet from following someone with good manners in public!
i agree. i have been to augusta the past 10 years. i never liked phil until i saw him during a practice round. he truly is a gentleman and is very good to the spectators and reporters. he is sincere. he is polite he is funny. tiger is none of the above. he would not even sign an autograph for a 10 year old when no one else was in the room. (i.e. the cameras were not rolling. kind of like mark mcgwire). as for vj, he may be nice, but check into his history of being kicked off the asian tour. hang in there phil…oh, did i say “hang”? i was not referring to your hang time! but you can rip it, so who cares if you can jump.
I was at the Harbour Town Pro-Am this past April playing with Dudley Hart (probably the nicest tour pro I have ever met). I asked him about Phil because I had heard of these same rumors and he said “Are we talking about fan Phil or FIGJAM?”. He said the guy is as phoney as a 3 dollar bill.
As he was walking off the 18th green at the Fry’s Electronics open yesterday, in Scottsdale, AZ, he didn’t look too happy with his game. When he passed the grandstands (and me), I said, “too bad, FIGJAM”. Within 1 minute, 2 police officers stepped up to me and said “Mr. Mickelson wants you off the course”. Make your own conclusions, folks. As for me, I’m thinking there’s something to be said for the nickname he seems to have earned.
Wow, Susan. What a jerk. I’m talking about you, not Phil. Anyone who’s a big enough jerk to make a comment like that deserves to be thrown off the course.
My neighbor took his 5 year old kid to see the At&t Tourney this year in DC. Tiger ignored all attempts by this 7 year old to even look in his direction. Phil smiled and waved, then later spotted him and gave him a thumbs up (despite being injured on on the way to a missed cut). Woody Austin interviewed that Phil was a great guy to be around at the President’s cup. Guys like Dudley Hart and the rest of the medocrities that fill out the fields are jealous – they are afraid to talk bad about Tiger, but feel free to bad mouth Phil. Just like Tiger, he makes them more money just by showing up, but they can’t deal with the fact that he isn’t just one of the guys. Champions usually are not just one of the guys. Btw, anyone that heckles a golfer like Susan did will get tossed from a PGA event, and deservedly so.
Why are so concerned with getting autographs? Oh, that’s right. You will be able to make money off of it later. Otherwise, what’s the point? Anyway, I don’t know anyone of these men personally so I will never know what kind of men they truly are. Either way, they are damn good golfers. Go Tiger! You too, Phil!
I have been to many PGA tournaments over the years and most recently flew over to Montreal to see the Presidents Club. I saw the body language and the childiness of the great TW. I also saw Phil in action on the Sunday round against the other chip on his shoulder guy. I also saw Phil with Austin. They played well together and if there were any ill-will I sure didn’t see it. Further the Golf Channel press and a lot of pro-golfers know which side of their bread is buttered. TW is the best golfers in the world but no-one has got the magical shots of Phil and that’s one of the reasons why most people like him. And you bet, he connects with the fans… Oh and by the way, next time look at the good will of Amy and the kids…
Just FYI Kelli, no autographs were requested or even desired on anyone’s part. All they were hoping from Tiger was a small acknoledgement that the fans are even there and cheering for him, let alone paying for his winnings. So even if we never know them (or any celebrity) personally, the public face they put on is what determines the goodwill and affection that the fans have, and that’s one reason why Phil is so popular.
as a true player – who cares what the other players think – i love to kick you know what – i am not out there to make friends of the other players
The reason he is not popular imo is that he is a huge corporate shill. Every behavior the man has is for $$$. His handlers are always trying to groom him into this gentleman corporate kiss ass and it is disgusting. He is not alone in this bs, but he is the most obvious fake at it.
I crux of the article is not how the fans view Phil but is about how his peers do. All this criticism of Tiger not acknowledging a kid or stopping for every autograph is ridiculous and completely offtopic. The author never mentioned Tiger so leave him out of this. Its very relevant how your peers in any field of work feel about you and to think it would be anny different in the world of pro sports is incredibly short-sighted.
This article has zero merit, and the author has zero credibility, especially in quoting an unnamed reporter.
Did said reporter ask all 220 exempt players on TOUR what they think of Phil? How many players would be forthcoming with an answer? Still, the “reporter” uses words like “…literally no friends…” and “…annoys everybody.” Trash reporting, and nothing more.
I know for a fact that Freddie Couples likes Phil, and Billy Mayfair counts Phil among his very best friends.
This type of trash is merely symptomatic of the trashy society the USA is becoming.
FIGJAM… well isn’t that just the nicest thing.
OK, so Phil thinks he is good. Big deal. He is good. He has won 35 times on tour and is the only guy in the game that some analysts and players agree could beat Tiger head-to-head when both players have their A game.
Tiger is a jerk and could have the same nickname for that matter. Why don’t they call HIM FIGJAM. He makes a big deal about how he wins sometimes without his A game. Now that is cocky.
I think a lot of his peers don’t like him because he is really good, really rich, has a super hot wife, the fans love him, and oh by the way he beats their a$$es a lot out on the course. Tiger is basically the same guy out there except he treats the fans like crap so does that mean they hate Tiger too. Yeah, probably but they are too scared and fear the wrath of the almighty Tiger.
And by the way. Who cares what Dudley Hart thinks. The next time he wins will be the first time.
The sports world is full of cocky athelets not neccessarily beloved by their peers. Dale Earnhart, Roger Clemens, Iverson, TO, etc.etc.etc. So what. All these guys are draw card to their respective sports and can back up their cockiness. At least Phil is polite and nice to his fans, many are not. He and TW are the best in their sport by far, and yes they both have a right to be cocky FIGJAM. I do know that Love, Verplank, Couples and Lehman are close to Phil. All of these guys are class acts and I think that says a lot about the company you keep. It is “the thing” to do on tour to kiss TW ass and they all know TW and Phil are not close so it is like picking sides for some of the journeymen. If you remember when the classless ahole caddy for TW made the remarks that he hated Phil and it captured the media attention, it was Phil who was man enough to approach him the first time they met afterwards and offer a hand. Let Phil be the least liked on tour, he is the most loved by fans.