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Jun 30
Lefty is taking a pass on the AT&T National this week, perhaps because he shot 74-73 a year ago and missed the cut at Congressional, where he also tied for 43rd in the 1997 U.S. Open. He might believe that the classic layout does not fit his game because Mickelson has broken par only once in six rounds on the course. However, he will be heading to Europe a week ahead of the Open Championship for the second consecutive year and will again play in the Barclays Scottish Open next week at Loch Lomond. Mickelson seemed to have the tournament wrapped up a year ago before struggling down the stretch and eventually losing in a playoff to Gregory Havret of France. Even though Mickelson's 10.08 total in the World Golf Rankings is less than half of the 21.14 compiled by Tiger Woods, there is a chance No. 2 could become No. 1 by the end of the season, according to PGATour.com. However, with Woods expected to be sidelined until sometime next year because of knee surgery, Lefty probably would have to win a major, a World Golf Championship event and perhaps two other tournaments to take over the top spot. Since the world ranking became official in 1986, Mickelson and the late Payne Stewart are the only players to win three majors without ever reaching No. 1. Woods, who has been No. 1 for more than 500 consecutive weeks, will finish the season with a point total of 11.97 if he indeed does not play again in 2008. |
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