Lefty's Right

Well, wasn't this how it was supposed to end? Tiger came to Augusta hoping to take back the throne as the rightful king of the PGA Tour. But wouldn't you know, it was a lovable Lefty who slipped on the green jacket Sunday evening. Note to Merriam-Webster: the definition of poetic justice going forward should read "2010 Masters."

It should come as no surprise that Tiger chose the Masters for his 'return-to-golf'' tournament. I use return loosely because, as Tiger said in his post-final round interview, he's isn't sure when we'll see him tee off again. For years, the hallowed grounds at golf's cathedral have been a safety net for Tiger. We've grown accustomed to seeing him deftly navigate Amen Corner. Four of Tiger's 14 Major championships have been celebrated at Butler Cabin. Since the other majors rotate venues every year, that's a pretty significant relationship with any one course. He owns the record for largest margin of victory at the Masters. He was the first African-American to win at at Augusta National. Tiger clearly wanted things to turn out differently this week. Luckily for the rest of us, they didn't.

While Tiger was busy doing things he shouldn't have been doing, Phil Mickelson was quietly taking time off from to focus on his family. When his wife, Amy, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, there was no doubt what Phil's top priority was. For a lot of fans, Phil holds a special place in our hearts. He was unquestionably one of the top golfer's in the world for the better part of the last decade, but struggled to get the giant monkey for professionals - winning the first Major- off his back. In the end, it made him a fan favorite. We'd get our hopes up and then have our hearts broken right along with him.

Phil missed the British Open last summer and had a lackluster performance at the PGA Championship before his hiatus to tend to Amy and their kids. While he's played in a handful of tournaments since then, this was the first big one. Amy missed the first three rounds, but was able to watch from the gallery on Sunday. Bobby Jones, Augusta's co-designer, famously said that golf is primarily played on the five-and-a-half inch course between your ears. For Phil, Sunday's round was played on the course of his heart. While Tom Rinaldi and the rest of the media have been on Tiger's trail this week, Phil quietly set about winning one for his biggest fan.

Too often we lose perspective when it comes to sports - we make it into something more important than it ever should be. But we can't forget that, sometimes, we need sports to provide distraction. For golfers, tee boxes, fairways, and greens are where they feel most at home. I'm sure Tiger hoped - even if it was futile - that, if only for this week, he could come to Augusta and run away from his problems. Amy's health is Phil's problem, and that embrace at 18 told you everything you needed to know about how Lefty plays the game between his ears and in his heart.