>Tuesday, July 22, 2008
BY BRENDAN PRUNTY
Star-Ledger Staff
After playing Ridgewood Country Club a number of times in preparation for The Barclays next month, Phil Mickelson believes the FedEx Cup will be getting off to a great start.
“I’ve done a couple of outings out there, so I’ve had a chance to see the golf course and play it,” Mickelson said yesterday while making an appearance in Jersey City. “With it being our first FedEx Cup event, it’s important to get off to a good start.”
Tiger Woods is out for the rest of this year after having surgery on his left knee last month, meaning Mickelson will be the top draw when the first event of the PGA Tour’s four-tournament playoff comes to New Jersey next month. With The Barclays moving from its longtime home at Westchester (N.Y.) Country Club to Ridgewood in Paramus last winter, players have expressed their enthusiasm for the classic course.
“It’s interesting. They’re both wonderful, historic sights,” Mickelson said. “But I think Ridgewood has a little bit more with the Ryder Cup (held there in 1935), as well as (other) championships. I think it will be a cool site.”
It’s a site Mickelson will be more familiar with because of his practice rounds at the course. With its tricky greens, thick rough and oak tree-lined fairways, Ridgewood will be a unique test for the field.
“I’m familiar with how the course will be set up, how the rough and the greens will be set up,” Mickelson said. “I did that because I hadn’t really played the course before.”
The Barclays, which will be played Aug. 21-24, will be the first professional tournament Mickelson will play in the Garden State since he won the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol. He said he’s enthused to get back to playing in front of the crowds that supported him during that major win three summers ago.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “This is going to be a key tournament for the end of the year.”
Mickelson, on his way home from the British Open, where he finished tied for 19th at 14 over par, was at the Liberty Science Center with his wife Amy for the fourth annual Mickelson/ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. The program was developed to give teachers the opportunity to expand math and science skills.
It’s been a whirlwind 36 hours for Mickelson, who flew to New York after his final round at the British Open and then arrived in Jersey City. This morning, he and Amy will be in Washington testifying before the House Education and Labor Committee about the importance of math and science education.
Brendan Prunty may be reached at bprunty@starledger.com.