The Neverending Major... Phil's open and shut case... Manny as Rasputin?

After a weekend of rain, the U.S. Open finally wrapped up Monday with Lucas Glover (who?) triumphing by two shots at four under par. However, the compelling storylines were tied for second two shots back-- could Phil Mickelson rally despite playing minimal golf during a trying time for his family? Would David Duval (ranked 882nd in the world) come all the way back from obscurity? And could Ricky Barnes continue an incredible run at Bethpage Black?

All three had opportunities to win--but Barnes blew up on the front nine with back-to-back-to-back-to-back bogeys... Duval gave away four shots over the first three final round holes... and Phil bogeyed 15 and 17 while in position to take the title. Whither Tiger? Grinding out a 69 to finish even par for what will to him be a subpar weekend. Rocco? No sequel to last years golf version of Rocky-- Mr. Mediate was Clubber Langed by a third round (no birdies, nine bogeys with seven over his final ten holes to finish) 79.

Phil's near-miss continues his career heartbreak at the U.S. Open--his five runnerup finishes are the most all-time...and among those he was tied with for fourth, Mickelson was the only one not to have won the tournament at one point (Nicklaus having four titles). Perhaps he's just not meant to win this one--like Lee Trevino and the Masters, or Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson at the PGA. Granted, he still has to take the British--which I think works more to his let it all hang out game than the U.S.--and for now Phil's fixed at three.

You see, while he's not competing against Tiger as he'll never reach 14--Mickelson has a legitimate shot at entering Faldo/Ballesteros/Floyd territory as one of those guys who finished with 4-6 major titles but no career slam. While Tiger/Jack are the Boardwalk and Park Place of golf, there's no shame in residing at Pacific Avenue with Gary Player or Sam Snead. While 185 men have won at least one major and only 43 have taken three titles, just a select 25 have won four. Right now Phil/Ernie/Vijay are all stuck at St. James' Place--trying to turn the corner... Each has maybe one more major run in himself...conventional wisdom being Mickelson has two or three still out there before he's done. Your head says "yes, he has the ability-- he can clearly triumph again at the PGA or Masters and break through at the British"--but the gut says Phil might finish as the best three time major champ ever.


On the Nationals front--Grigori Rasputin was a Russian mystic at the dawn of the 20th century-- he advised the Royal family before being assassinated in 1916...after more than a few attempts that barely missed their mark. There were rumors that Rasputin was undead/immortal (only in pre-Communist Russia) before he was finally killed: poison, bullet in the back, more shots in the back, beaten to a pulp and then frozen/drowned in the icy river.

Manny Acta's demise was reported on Fox Sports over a week ago...and while he remains in charge the team has caught fire (four straight winning streak ending Sunday)-- perhaps the leaking of his firing was the best thing that happend to Manny.