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Call it the end of a chapter and the start of a book.
That’s what Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods provided last week with their respective announcements.
Before the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges last week in South Korea, Mickelson (above) declared that he did not deserve to be picked for the Woods-captained U.S. Presidents Cup team that will play in Australia in December. If he’s not picked, Mickelson’s run of playing for the United States in 24 consecutive team events will end. It wasn’t an official announcement but it felt that way.
Woods, meanwhile, announced that he will author a memoir titled Back, detailing his personal story through his spectacular and sometimes turbulent career.
“This book is my definitive story. It’s in my words and expresses my thoughts. It describes how I feel and what’s happened in my life.
Tiger woods
There is no timetable for the release of Woods’ book, which he will put together in the coming months. He will work with editors at HarperCollins and, according to the release announcing the book, Woods said he’s ready to tell his side of his story.
With multiple books having been written about him and with two more books plus an HBO production about Woods coming in the relatively near future, his book is intended to set the record straight from his perspective.
“I’ve been in the spotlight for a long time, and because of that, there have been books and articles and TV shows about me, most filled with errors, speculative and wrong,” Woods said in the release.
“This book is my definitive story. It’s in my words and expresses my thoughts. It describes how I feel and what’s happened in my life. I’ve been working at it steadily, and I’m looking forward to continuing the process and creating a book that people will want to read.”
There is a gold mine of material for Woods to cover and the more personal he makes it, the better it will be.
As for Mickelson, his flat play since winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February has made it increasingly evident that he is a long shot to be added to the U.S. Presidents Cup squad that will face the International team at Royal Melbourne.
Here’s what Mickelson said when asked about the possibility of his being one of Woods’ four captain’s choices:
“No, no, no. I have not played well in the last seven, eight months. There are much better options of players that have played consistently at a high level that deserve to be on the team and … even if I were to win, I have not done enough to warrant a pick. I'm not asking for one, I don't expect one. I think there’s a lot better options for the U.S. side.
“I would like to add that I am starting to play much better golf and I’m excited about this upcoming season and I’m excited about making the Ryder Cup team next year and I plan on doing that.”
So, while trying to close the door on the Presidents Cup team, Mickelson left open the Ryder Cup door because he’s Phil.
Mickelson, who will turn 50 next June, has played on every American Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup team since 1994. That’s a remarkable run of consistency, not to mention good health.
Ron Green Jr.