Video: Phil's End Zone Shot

I don't think Phil Mickelson's MNF chip shot for charity was nearly as bad as the Tweets made it out to be. In fact, considering the circumstances it's pretty impressive.

Though he probably forgot to compensate for the extra few yards of artificial turf mat bounce.

Berman! ESPN Opts Out Of Phil's Halftime Shot To Discuss What Will Ray Lewis Do Next?

I feel like I've lived my worst nightmare, turning on Monday Night Football to see Phil Mickelson's cool attempt to try a shot in front of 60,000 Chargers fans during halftime. And what does ESPN give us? Halftime highlights, notes and profound discussions anchored by Chris Berman. And once again, he wasn't as entertaining as this.

So there is no video (yet), just this photo from KPMG and a report on PGATour.com that Mickelson earned $50,000 for First Book.

Update on 2012-10-16 06:04 by Geoff

**From an unbylined AP story:

The crowd responded with a mixture of boos and cheers when Lefty's shot missed the circles.

"I must have had a little bit more adrenaline because the ball was a little bit long. I thought I hit a pretty good shot but it flew long," Mickelson said.

Still, he had a good time.

"I haven't had this experience. This is an amazing experience. In golf, we don't get this," he said. "The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale has nothing on this. This was awesome, seeing the Jumbotron with my picture, as I'm looking up taking the shot, that was unique. That was something that was pretty cool."

Here is Phil on ESPN before the game talking about the Ryder Cup loss and dealing with a mess of a question from Steve Young.

And there's a neat shot of Mickelson at the top of his backswing with Jonathan Wall's Yahoo blog post.

Phil Attempting Million Dollar MNF Shot

Alex Myers with the details on a KPMG charity event during halftime of the October 15 Monday Night Football game between the Chargers and Broncos.

Gala Dinner: Alan Shipnuck's Red Carpet Report

Alan Shipnuck braved the Ryder Cup gala dinner and was pleasantly surprised by Justin Timberlake's hosting effort and the overall decency of the evening.

The best look was definitely Dustin Johnson’s faux-hawk, if you don’t count the perpetual bedhead of Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker. The wives were free to pick their own gowns and they looked stunning. Bonus points to Kim (Mrs. Zach) Johnson for rocking blue satin while very pregnant. I would strongly encourage male readers to Google pictures of Amanda (Mrs. Jason) Dufner, Diane (Mrs. Luke) Donald, and Amanda Caulder, Dustin Johnson’s special friend. Jason Dufner looks increasingly like Alfred E. Newman; I tweeted from the red carpet about him being "overmarried" and before the night was out he replied, "Why would u ever under marry...DUH!!!"

This was also a fun image...

The players were then sequestered backstage and I returned to my seat to catch the musical stylings of Chicago, the classic rock group comprised of guys who are as leathery as Amy Mickelson’s dress. The set went on for an excruciatingly long time, but everyone else seemed to love it. I even peeped PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem boogeying in his seat, lip-synching a few lyrics. Which explains a lot, I think.

Golf.com has a 31 page gallery from the red carpet, including a shot of what Shipnuck called the hardest working button in golf: the one on Darren Clarke's dinner jacket.

Update on 2012-09-27 16:52 by Geoff

**Another excellent Gala slideshow from my colleagues at GolfDigest.com.

Phil Not Quite Yet Part Of Padres Ownership Group

From an unbylined FoxSports.com story on the new Padres ownership group's first press conference Wednesday that did not include Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson was prominently absent on the list of investors revealed Wednesday upon the close of the sale by former owner John Moores. Instead, it was San Diego businessman Ron Fowler and four grandsons of longtime Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers patriarch Walter O'Malley — Kevin O'Malley, Brian O'Malley, Peter Seidler and Tom Seidler — who were presented to the media.

Those new owners pooh-poohed Mickelson's absence.

"We have a spot in our group for Phil and only Phil,” Peter Seidler said, according to UTSanDiego.com. “We expect that to be finalized in two weeks."

Phil On Playing Bethpage's 7th As A Three-Shotter

Brendan Prunty gives us a sneak preview of the Barclays big debut at Bethpage Black and notes one key change to the PGA Tour plans for the 7th hole compared to the USGA's U.S. Open setup.

During the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Opens, the USGA played it as a 500-plus yard par-4. At the end of next month, it will play as a 550-yard-plus par-5 for The Barclays. While Mickelson continuously professed his love for the course and the New York-area galleries, the changes at the seventh were welcome news.

“I’ve always been a fan of the original designer’s interests in how a golf hole is designed to play from its inception,” Mickelson said. “As opposed to somebody else who comes in and tries to alter it for their own benefit or ego.”

Phil's Been Lethargic, According To Phil

Interesting video clip from CBS This Morning of Phil Mickelson talking to Charlie Rose in the days after the Open and says he's come to the conclusion he has been lethargic. I couldn't see it at the Scottish Open where his energy levels seemed high until Sunday, whereas at the Open he definitely did seem to be slightly off.

He also has some interesting things to say about Bubba Watson's Masters recovery shot and spin and Augusta.

Latest Sportscenter Spot Undone By The Confining Limitations Of A 30-Second Window?

I'm guessing this one sounded better in the pitch...or maybe it's Scott Van Pelt fatigue?