The win at THE TOUR Championship puts Mickelson back as the second ranked golfer in the world, according to the Official World Golf Rankings. With Woods retaining the top spot, the pair are poised to reignite their rivalry next season. But, it was a different year for golf’s two biggest stars. Both had multiple win seasons and enjoyed success in the playoffs but not in major championships.
Mickelson, who won three times in 2009, missed most of the summer after learning that his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Then, his mother received the same diagnosis about a month later. He didn’t play in the British Open so that he could be home to support his family. His win at THE TOUR Championship was not only emotional but, for fans, it was nice to see Lefty walking down the 18th fairway with his trademark smile.
Woods came into the 2009 season with a lot of questions after missing most of the 2008 season after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery. Woods answered with six wins and three second place finishes in 16 events. Woods finished outside the top 10 only twice – at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Deutsche Bank Championship. For Woods, season are graded on major championships. He did not win one this season and missed his only cut of the year at the British Open.
With the PGA heading into the offseason, fans will have the winter to dream and debate about what could be for the 2010 season. Woods, having played a full season on his new knee, will be determined to get major win number 14 and inch closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles. Mickleson, who has not won a major since 2006, will try to end the curse of Winged Foot, where he collapsed down the stretch to lost the U. S. Open.
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[...] at the final FedEx Cup event, where Mickelson took home the TOUR Championship over Woods. The rivalry between two of the greatest golfers in the game looked like it had come back. Mickelson had [...]