A Tale of Two Worlds - Phil vs Tiger

What a final day of the Masters. Phil Mickelson shot a flawless, bogey-free final round 67 to win his third green jacket. It was a day of incredible shotmaking, exciting golf, fascinating stories, but also stark contrast. The 2010 Masters showed the day and night difference between golf's two biggest stars - Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

On the course, Phil Mickelson is known for his swashbuckling style. Phil would always make enough shots to win tournaments, but usually always make enough bad shots to lose them too. Remember the infamous meltdown at Winged Foot in the '06 US Open? It was a collapse so epic we never thought he'd recover from. Even last year at the Masters he ruined a historic run by putting the ball in the water at Amen Corner. But, this year there was Mickelson shooting a clutch, bogey-free round on his way to 67. There were all the typical Phil highlights today, but also the short putts and up and downs that he would usually let slip away. Today, he was as clinical as Tiger Woods.

On the course, Tiger Woods is known as a cold-blooded assassin. Tiger never gives away cheap shots. He's the gamiest gamer that has ever gamed. Nobody makes less mistakes or more clutch shots. But, this year there was Tiger popping up drives, leaving shots in bunkers, hitting trees, and 3 jacking 8 footers. There were tremendous shots as well - the hole out from the fairway on 7, another eagle on 15, and 4 other birdies. It was a roller coaster ride like we've never seen from Tiger Woods on the way to a memorable 69 (*insert own joke here*). Today, on the golf course, he was Phil Mickelson.

Throughout this week, and let's face it, everywhere Phil Mickelson goes, he is greeted with thunderous applause and support. Not since Arnold Palmer have we seen a golfer as loved by fans of the game (and yes, I refuse to use the word patrons). Roar after roar went round Augusta due to Mickelson's heroics. Whether it was the Saturday eagles or his heroic scrambling and shotmaking on Sunday, the fans were always there for Mick. Why is it that the galleries love Mickelson - is it his go for broke mentality? His years of coming so close to winning? His interaction with the fans around the golf course? That he looks like he enjoys playing golf for a living? Likely, it's all of the above.

Throughout this week, Tiger Woods was met with "generous applause" or "warm receptions" wherever he went. Nobody knew what would meet Tiger, but at Augusta, it's no surprise that he got a generally positive reception from the fans and the media. But, even before the sex scandal that crashed his career, Woods was never loved like Mickelson. Yes, Woods was a trailblazer, a role model, a corporate juggernaut, and maybe the best that we've ever seen - but he has never been loved. Maybe it's the cold demeanor. Maybe it's the temper-tantrums and swearing on the golf course (Eldrick still has some work to do in that department). Maybe it was the robotic image and the fact that his yacht was called Privacy. Maybe it was that he has never let any of us past the red shirt and the Tiger Woods brand. Likely, it is all of the above.

Right after Mickelson made birdie at 18, the storybook ending unfolded as his wife Amy embraced him on the walk to sign his scorecard. We heard the broadcasters talk about the distraction in Mickelson's life. About his troubles off the course. And, about how he hadn't played his best golf in recent months. We heard the Mickelson family story. Mickelson's wife and mother have both been battling breast cancer for several months, and it was Amy's first time to see her husband on the golf course since her fight began. It was a touching, heart-warming moment for the viewers at home as the slow-mo cameras even caught a tear running down Phil's face. It was something we'd see from the Hallmark Channel.

On the other hand, there's Tiger Woods, cutting a solitary figure throughout the entire week. There was Tiger after Sunday's round looking like the same old combative Tiger that we've always seen. We heard the broadcasters talk about the distraction in Tiger's life. About his off-course issues. And, about how he hadn't picked up a golf club in 5 months. We never heard the words sex, rehab, affair, family, or anything like it. Tiger's wife Elin stayed away from Augusta and rightfully so. Tiger Woods is trying to rebuild a broken family life due to the four month HydrantSexRehabGate that has haunted him. And, while we should all pull for the best for Tiger's family, you couldn't help but notice that there was nobody waiting for Tiger as he walked off the 18th green. One had to wonder what was going through Elin's mind through all of this.

One has to wonder, would either man think about trading places with the other. Would Phil give up the love and adoration of the masses for 10 more majors... to be like Tiger? Probably not. Would Tiger sacrifice all the historic victories, being the global icon, and now all of the turmoil to be loved like Phil? Now, after seeing the first tournament after golf was changed forever, I'm not so sure he wouldn't.

They said that this year's Masters would be the most watched golf tournament in history. And, we were rewarded with a golf tournament that will be remembered for several reasons. We saw some of the best shots in Masters history. We saw Tiger's comeback from his dramatic fall begin. We also saw the two best players in the game battle for another green jacket. Ultimately, we saw two men linked as the best in their field so crystalized in two different worlds that it shined through like the Azaleas in HD. Sunday at the 2010 Masters was such a memorable day because it painted such a remarkable picture that only sports can deliver.