SF Examiner: U.S. Open will return to Pebble Beach in 2019

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

PEBBLE BEACH — It was a long time coming. “East Coast bias?” mused U.S. Golf Association official Mike Davis.

But once more it won’t be a long time before the U.S. Open returns to Pebble Beach.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Phil Mickelson: From Whipping Boy to Winner

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

It's interesting, all this praise for Phil Mickelson, not that it's undeserved. Not too long ago, he was everyone's whipping boy, the anti-Tiger if you will. Knocked for the way he played, knocked for the way he acted.

Four years ago, GQ magazine made him No. 8, and the only golfer, in its audacious article of the Ten Most Hated Athletes, one of those arbitrary lists designed to be outrageous if not accurate.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

RealClearSports: Mickelson Makes Tiger's Masters His Own

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The week that seemed to belong to Tiger Woods, to the comeback that swamped all other sports news like a flood, instead finished in the possession of the man who could be called Tiger's only real rival, Phil Mickelson.

What an ending Sunday to a Masters that was poignant, dramatic and most of all tearful. What a close to a golfing show of spectacular shots and remarkable tension.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

Global Golf Post: A Masters That Became A Work Of Art

By Art Spander
For GlobalGolfPost.com

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA -- This was no Masters. This was a Masters-piece, from, yes, the man who won it, Phil Mickelson, but also from so many others, from Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Anthony Kim, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, and no less importantly by the old lady herself, Augusta National.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 Global Golf Post

Newsday: Mickelson still has his 2009 mojo going

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were paired together for the final round of the 2009 Masters, each seven strokes behind the leader.

Then the two biggest names in golf put on the biggest show in golf. Mickelson shot a 67, Woods a 68.

Thursday, they were in different groups, but they both picked up where they left off, Mickelson with another 67 and Woods another 68.

For both the golf was equally impressive.

Mickelson is tied for second, seemingly with half the field, a shot behind Fred Couples.

"I just felt like we were going to go out and make some noise,'' Mickelson said about 2009, "and we both did.''

And about 2010?

"It's a good start,'' said Mickelson, a two-time Masters champion. "My expectations are high.''

He will be 40 in June and, as has been noted, his wife, Amy, is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She arrived two days ago from their home north of San Diego but did not feel well enough Thursday to come to Augusta National.

"They are totally different,'' Mickelson said of his 67s separated by 360 days. "Sunday is Sunday. It's just a different feel. Thursday is getting off to a good start. I needed a good, solid round because I've been putting myself behind early in tournaments and been having to almost force things.''

At 1 under par through 12 holes, Mickelson rammed a 6-iron onto the green for his second shot to the 510-yard par-5 13th and sank the 30-foot eagle putt. He followed with a 40-footer for a birdie on the par-4 14th and a 25-footer for a birdie on the par-5 15th, and just like that, he was 5 under.

- - - - - -

http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/mickelson-still-has-his-2009-mojo-going-1.1853453
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.