Phil was just another one of the top golfers in the world to me when I left for Bethpage this morning. I followed his group around from the 4th through 9th holes. After he was done with the 9th, I waited for him to head towards a waiting van, in hopes of a handshake or something. The guy comes rifling through the crowd, fist bumping everyone that sticks their hands out with this huge smile on his face. Of course I got in on the action, and took away a little good Phil mojo on my right hand.

Thats all. I just thought it was so cool of him. Ernie and Goosen just kept walking through the crowd, didn't even acknowledge well wishers with a glance.

I got a fist bump from him earlier this year, it was pretty sweet. I love how he makes eye contact with everybody he gives an autograph/fist bump.

He looked very relaxed on tv. The US Open has got to be a cakewalk compared to the stress him and his wife have recently gone through. I'd love to see him win this week. Hope he continues to play well.

Some people can say of big deal or whatever. However with all the crazies out there - I would be paranoid if I were a pro golfer not Phil. He just goes right to the crowd and most people love it.

Someone commented that people in NY like him because he gives a lot of time to the fans with mingling between holes, autographs especially for the kids, big smiles, kind words, talking sports with the fans. He is a very likeable guy.

I can hear it now, "those where phony fist bumps"

Eye contact is the easiest acknowledgement a player can give. It takes no time and is a great way to connect with the fans - it's a shame more players don't bother.

Hey Italian Stallion, Ernie was having a bad day mate going by his score..Scroll to the bottom of the leaderboard and his name is there.
What intrigues me is that in you personal signature you state that your golf handicap is 1.9 and your best ever round is -2. How is this possible mate? I am not having a dig at you but surely playing off a 2 handicap, you must have gone lower at some stage of your golfing career in a competition? I like Phil by the way, never met the guy or seen him play in person. I wish I had his short game when he is on song with it. Tommi....

Why question? I mean why try to stir that ****? The guy told a great Phil story, why try and be "that guy"? 69 is a GREAT round! His handicap totally reflects that. Tiger fan?

What was the purpose for this reply? The kid is relaying a nice story about a player and you have to take a "dig" (even though you said you didn't) at him. Very bizarre.

It is very possible Tommi - you'll find out soon enough as soon as Australia switches to the USGA Handicap system.

Agreed, PGA players should realize how easy it is to stick a hand out or throw a smile. It wins a lot of fans and makes the tournament more enjoyable for fans. That being said, it isn't in everyones personality. I don't think it means they are bad/mean people if they don't do it, but their handlers should point this out to them and they could work on it a bit.

italianstallaion,
Thanks for sharing that. Phil looks to really be in his element out there. I'm really pulling for him right now. As for Ernie's attitude, I'm not surprised. He walked by me on a Monday at Harbour Town doing to the range, when there were only about 5 people around, he was not pleasant. I'm still a fan of Ernie, but he seems to be down a lot, whether he's playing poorly or not.

He has had a lot going on with his son and what not. That can't be easy to deal with. I think sometimes people forget these guys have personal lives and being a pro golfer and being rich doesn't fix everything.

It seems like its is turning out to be a lousy year for Ernie, his son plus having a terrible round. It is pretty difficult for anyone to be hard on Phil right now. He is playing well and is probably going out of his mind with worry about Amy. Kudos to the great NY fans and Phil.

Thanks for the backup on that one.

Here's the deal. 69 is my lowest round ever. I play on a par 71 course with a USGA rating of 72.2 and a slope of 133. I have shot anywhere between 73 and 79 on that course this year, with alot of 74s in the mix. Its a 1.9 handicap, not a +1.9 handicap. And don't criticize me for the USGA handicap system, can't help the fact that I live in the U.S.

And Ernie was coming off a bad hole on 9 yesterday, so I guess thats part of it. But like someone said, eye contact means alot to some people. Why not look at the fans as you walk by, nodding your head at the applause? I'm not as into autographs as I was when I was a kid. Now I'd personally rather have the memory of Phil's fist bump and brief eye contact than his autograph.

sometimes even the little gestures can convert you, as has been mentioned. I've posted before how great Rory Sabbatini was in Montreal a couple of years ago. He was always gesturing to the fans and his wife was walking down the ropes high fiving people the whole way. Was very cool. I don't dislike the guys that don't do that, but appreciate the players who take the time to interact, even if it is in a small way

as far as the handicap question that hijacked the thread, i can beat that...i'm at 1.9 now through 20 rounds this year (mostly in bad weather) and have yet to break par this year

Great story.

If I can join Italian Stallion in a little Phil appreciation, I was following him at Westchester a few years ago. I was walking outside the ropes along with him as he walked from the tee box to his drive's landing area, and was pretty far from him with no one at all around except this sweet little girl (maybe 7 years old, I was shocked to see her seemingly alone) who called out to him, "Hi Phil!" He was about thirty yards inside the ropes, but he heard her, looked over, smiled and said "Hi honey" back to her --right in the middle of his round, with no cameras there, and I don't even think he saw me watching. Like Stallion, it was my one moment of seeing Phil for who I believe he is. And it seems we both went away enriched. Fake PHil? You'd have a hard time convincing me that he's anything but a very generous guy.

My personality would lean more towards the withdrawn approach if I was a public figure or a pro golfer. However, the Phil haters amongst the players should realize how much good will guys like Phil and Arnie foster by bringing the crowd into the event. Imagine a tourney with guys like Scott Hoch and Paul Goydos marching around looking like they were about to die playing a round of golf for big money. I respect Tiger and the way he carries himself, and I respect Phil for his demeanor as well, don't think it has to be an either or thing at all.

Troll!!!

Every player is different and handles pressure a different way. We seem to hear lots of first hand great stories here about friendly Phil that we see on TV. Then we hear some third hand story about a friend of a friend who once knew a bag boy that worked at some unnamed club who heard from a friend of guy that someone once told them that Phil was not friendly with some of the other players.

Phil signs tons of autographs for kids, has a charity for military vets, smiles and interacts with the fans, has a caddy who does not smear other players yet the Phil haters keep going.

I would have like to see Phil win but it was nice to see Lucas Glover win, Glover, Barnes & Duval get their carrers back on track and great play by Mahan and Ross Fisher.
My only swipe at Phil - maybe he is too friendly and needs to concentrate more but I doubt Phil would change.

Phil displays always grace when he wins or loses. He is a credit to the ideals of golf and sportsmanship.