Hot! It's Phil Mickelson's Turn To Chase Jack Nicklaus Now

WithTiger Woodssitting out the actual U.S. Open that begins this week at Congressional Country Club for that newbie considering 1994 as a result of a bum knee in addition to aching Achilles' tendon, his / her desire ofJack Nicklaus'record 18 major shining advantages is going to stay on hold.

But that does not necessarily mean there's no objective associated with a Nicklaus major-championship record to help keep us all glued on the recliner.

That's because Phil Mickelson , Mr. Runner-up with the U.S. Open, can be showing down on the Golden Bear's track record to get a lot of second-place finishes inside the exact same main championship.

Mickelson includes complete second or tied pertaining to subsequent a record five periods at your U.S. Open.

But Nicklaus done second or attached to get following eight situations within the British Open. Of course, your dog furthermore won which tournament some periods in contrast to Lefty still is usually searching for his first U.S. Open crown.

Of course, almost everybody witnesses that Nicklaus offers your track record with regard to major championships, a mark which will seemed unbeatable until eventually Woods arrived around in addition to reached 14, in which all of us indicate majors rather than lovers.

Anyway, many people forget about that while Nicklaus manufactured your wonderful bride, he or she additionally created some sort of dandy bridesmaid.

Nicklaus finished minute 19 occasions throughout major championships. Nobody can be even nearby to him, which include Tiger as well as Phil that each possess concluded Mr. Runner-up half a dozen times inside majors and, regarding Tiger, after in the divorce.

Greg NormanandTom Watsoneach concluded following eight situations within playing golf majors andSam Sneadwas a runner-up eight times.

Mickelson also seems to have some thing intended for No. couple of from the World Golf Rankings. He features moved to be able to No. couple of a few times during his career along with possesses have a number of possibilities to maneuver to No. 1 nonetheless has certainly not rather obtained there.

However, we're not willing to confess second area to be able to Mickelson at Congressional merely yet.

Not withLee Westwoodlaying with the particular weeds, or at the least this heavy rough.

You'll call to mind that Westwood done second in the Masters plus British Open throughout 2010, setting up himself for a prospective bridesmaid about any course. He hasn't picked up a primary tournament and is definitely rated No. 2 on earth behindLuke Donald.

So they have received many of the makings of any runner-up at Congressional, which often could have him just a second-place finish with this PGA Championship of an employment Mr. Runner-up Grand Slam.

Who knows? Maybe we shall acquire that will aspiration Sunday partnering soon after all, with Mickelson plus Westwood attached pertaining to next visiting your 72nd hole - five shots behindRory McIlroy.

Out with alignment

ESPN.com reports which Major League Baseball will be thinking of a impressive realignment that would involve going a new National League membership on the American League in order that you will discover 12-15 squads with each league.

Then instead when compared with having three category winners and a wild-card team, the top five competitors in each league might produce this playoffs to generate yet another "layer" of playoff games.

Just regarding fun, we seen the actual standings in the beginning involving play Sunday to check out when just about any clubs would a lot advantage or often be penalized by simply that structure.

Turns out, so far, them helps make small difference.

Boston, New York, Cleveland, Detroit and also Texas were being the very best all 5 coaches and teams from the AL with Tampa Bay plus Seattle just simply beyond this playoffs.

Tampa could be the simply third-place group in contention.

On the particular NL side the top part several have been Philadelphia, St. Louis, Atlanta, Milwaukee in addition to San Francisco.

The Diamondbacks, who commenced the day per game lurking behind San Francisco while in the NL West, were being sixth while in the would-be playoff race, followed with the Reds and Marlins, the two third-place teams for their division.

So zero division director has been disregarded as well as teams in contention for any rough outdoors minute card often were one of many leading several or maybe in contention to the fifth spot.

Reach The Heat Index at bob.young@arizonarepublic.com and also 602-444-8271.