The Tiger & Phil Show: 2010 Edition

The 2010 Masters marked an all new start for the Tiger & Phil Show.

In this version, Tiger is the underdog; a man groping for his lost identity. Phil is the people's choice, seemingly the hometown favorite wherever he goes. Tiger is the guy with boundless ability who has somehow lost the lens he has always used to bring his brilliance into sharp focus.

Should he throw the big uppercut? Or, would an enthusiastic fist pump seem too arrogant for the kinder, gentler more Buddhaesque Woods? Tiger Woods has found himself caught between two worlds just has Phil Mickelson has found his peace of mind and the completeness of his life.

On Sunday, Phil walked off Augusta's 18th green in victory and into the warm embrace of his waiting family. While he seemed like a man who was happy to have won his third Masters he seemed even more grateful that all of his family was there to meet him.

Had Tiger pulled off the win, who would have been there to share and savor his victory? Hank Haney, his coach? Steve Williams, his caddy...his mother? What was a joyous victory stroll for Phil would have been a lonely reminder for Woods of the loved ones whom he has failed.

Since his comeback there's been a lot of talk about Woods' showing more respect for the game. It's just not his style: All the way back to the days of his US Amateur wins, part of Woods' intimidation package was his chilly treatment of his opponents and his ferocious (though usually brief) celebrations. The truth is that I have never seen Woods act with disrespect for the game or toward his opponent. Woods' manner was not for everyone, but was no more disrespectful in his way than Hogan was in his.

On Thursday, Tiger was downright chummy towards Matt Kuchar and K.J. Choi. As the tournament moved on, Woods' became more typically distant. I cannot recall one instance on Saturday or Sunday when Woods and Choi exchanged so much as a word.

This brings me to the most important point of all about Tiger Woods: The very worst thing he can do on the golf course is to try and change his demeanor. Oh sure, the talking heads can go on about Bobby Jones' transformation from a club thrower to a gentleman, but Woods has a different kind of temper. Woods has the kind of temper that actually works for him while Jones' worked very much against him. Far from getting in his way, his emotions are a big part of what made Woods as a player.

Those who haven't followed his career closely were surprised at how Woods looked and sounded after the final round. But the fact is that he looked and sounded pretty much like he always has when displeased with his game. To his credit, he has almost always made himself available for interviews after big loses. The same cannot be said of well regarded golf gentlemen, Ernie Els. After Els watched Phil Mickelson roll in his winning birdie putt on the 18th to give him a one shot win in 2004, Els was down the road without a word. Was it a heartbreaking way to lose after shooting a 67? Of course. Would Tiger Woods have stayed around to face the music? I rather think he would have...

Everyone suffers in their own way:

"I am such an idiot." –Phil Mickelson after collapsing on the 72nd hole of the 2006 US Open...

"What a stupid I am!" –Roberto De Vicenzo after his legendary scoring debacle at the 1968 Masters...

For Phil, the time of suffering has passed. He has quieted the echos of his past failures. He has silenced those who have criticized his style of play. If he never wins again, if he retired tomorrow, I still think he would be at peace with himself and his game.

But what about Tiger?

Why, with all he's accomplished, does peace of mind elude Woods? Perhaps it's because he has defined himself for so long as the one who comes to win, expects to win, almost demands to win yet is now forced to stare into the abyss of the rest of his life and sees only failure.

Winning 19 majors would make history, but not a life.