Tiger, Phil provide spark for golf fans

When Phil Mickelson rose up and defeated Tiger Woods but Woods won the FedEx Cup on Sunday, it was a shot in the arm for the game, according to NBC analyst and Hall of Famer Johnny Miller.

Woods and Mickelson represent No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, and when they share the spotlight beating one another, it piques the interest of the world's golf fans, said Miller, who will host the 12th annual Sorenson's Champions Challenge at Thanksgiving Point on Oct. 12-13. That event will feature the first appearance of Tiger stalker Rocco Mediate.

Miller will also do network commentary on the upcoming President's Cup at Harding Park in San Francisco on Oct. 6-11.

Will Tiger and Phil be paired again? No, said Miller, smiling at a media gathering this week, obviously remembering recent pairing flops with the two where you could cut the ego air with a dull knife.

AP's Jim Litke wrote at this year's Masters when Phil and Tiger were paired together: "Saying these two don't like each other is like saying the lords of Augusta National are proud of the little lawn out behind their clubhouse."

As charismatic and skilled as they are, neither shines in the shadow of one another. Yet, as Sunday showed, both are atomic draws with huge followings and a fan base greatly divided and loyal.

That spells ratings.

Phil's army was elated with Mickelson's blitzkrieg Sunday round that featured precision putting and shot-making. It was magic.

But so was Tiger's $10 million check for winning golf's playoffs after coming back from major knee surgery a year ago.

Network folks were salivating. The tragedy of Mickelson's wife and mother both battling breast cancer made for the perfect comeback story all summer.

Now the duo takes center stage in the President's Cup, a battle of Americans against international stars, including Canadian Mike Weir of Draper.

Miller said Mickelson returned to an old technique of giving his flat iron a forward press. He also went to senior star Dave Stockton for a few lessons and, at the end of the first session, Mickelson rolled in consecutive putts of 21, 22 and 32 feet and declared, "You're hired, Dave."

Mickelson then started making a late-season FedEx Cup move leading to Sunday's impressive victory.