A Man In Full

Sixteen months ago, Phil Mickelson was the Best Player Without A Major. Sixteen months later, he's halfway to a career Grand Slam. Fortunes can change on dime.

By the time he turned 33 years old, Jack Nicklaus had already won 11 professional majors - and would make it an even dozen during his 33rd summer, when he added the 1973 PGA Championship to his trophy case. That 12th major, by the way, came less than a month after Jack's fifth child was born.

From Michael Nicklaus's birthday - July 24th, 1973 - until right now, the Golden Bear won seven Grand Slam titles. Seven majors, while providing for five children. That, my friends, is clutch.

Phil Mickelson now has two majors on his resume' at the age of 35, the first of which came when he was 33. Mickelson, like Jack, barely knew the Tour as a single man. He and his wife, Amy, have known each other since college days back in Arizona, and now have three children, none older than six. While Tiger Woods has the playing record that most closely approximates Jack's at the same age, it is Mickelson who more closely resembles the young Bear in both girth and personal life.

I got to thinking about all of this as I watched Mickelson celebrate on the 18th green at Baltusrol on Monday with his wife and children. The two girls, Amanda and Sophia, are old hands at this, having lept into Daddy's arms sixteen months ago in Augusta. The spotlight means nothing to them. But Evan, the boy, had to be coaxed out on Monday morning, still a little shy around all those strangers. In the end, like it is in my house, the youngest one refused to allow the older ones to have all the fun.

When Tiger Woods got married, there were predictable editorials in print and TV media wondering if his "drive" would suffer. How could he maintain his record pace, they wondered, if he was burdened by honey-do lists and shopping trips at home? The possibility of fatherhood for Tiger further stirred up the critics. How does he maintain his edge if he's changing diapers? Never mind that Jack Nicklaus, of all people, was singing the praises of both marriage and fatherhood when asked.

I hope Tiger was watching Monday's finish closely. I hope he saw the look on Mickelson's face in the seconds that followed his winning birdie putt. First came the relief of finishing, then the joy of winning, and then - something else.

I saw it once before, about three years ago, when Lance Armstrong stood on the podium after yet another Tour de France win, holding his son Luke in that now-famous baby yellow jersey. Even while being interviewed on live television, Armstrong couldn't take his eyes off that kid. I know that look. It says, "I cannot believe how beautiful you are."

Lefty had it on Monday, and I hope Tiger saw it. It is the look of a man in full. You can be a father and husband, and be a champion. Jack did it, and Phil is doing it (and on that note, if Nicklaus could win seven majors with five kids, I see nothing to indicate that Lefty can't win seven with three kids).

Too often, we are focused on what's next, when we should be paying attention to what's now. Kudos to Mickelson for his second major - but I admire him more for how he looks at his kids. Tiger, don't be afraid. Fatherhood may not make you a better player, but it will make you a better man.