Columnist Victoria Sun: Way to go, Phil

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000 | 9:16 a.m.

Victoria Sun's golf column appears Wednesday. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria@lasvegassun.com.

This space belongs to you, Phil Mickelson.

I just want to say thank you for confirming what I've suspected all along -- that someone else on the PGA Tour other than Tiger Woods is capable of winning a tournament.

The problem is figuring out a way to convince the other guys on tour that they can do it, too.

But first, they have to stop conceding victory to Woods before they reach the first tee.

Phil, perhaps you could share with the others how you were able to win the Tour Championship on Sunday even though you were one shot back entering the final round and Woods entered the day tied for the lead with Vijay Singh.

I'm not talking about the guys toward the bottom of the money list. I'm talking about guys who have a realistic shot at winning.

By winning the Tour Championship, you ended Woods' streak of winning tournaments he had led after the third round that dated to his third outing as a pro in 1996.

And not that you're counting, but it was the second time this year you stopped a Woods streak. When you won the Buick Invitational in February, you prevented him from winning his seventh consecutive tournament.

I am not a Tiger basher or anything of the sort because I enjoy watching him at his best -- as does most of the free world. Even so, it would be nice if the rest of the players on tour stopped complaining about all the attention Woods gets when they are doing nothing to stop it.