Design By Lefty
TIGER AND PHILhave not duked it out on a golf course since late August, but that doesn't meanthey've stopped competing with each other. Two and a half months after Woodsintroduced his course-design company, Tiger Woods Design, Mickelson is goingpublic with his own architectural firm: Phil Mickelson Design. Mickelson wasexpected to announce his venture on Tuesday in Palm Desert, Calif., beforemaking his season debut at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Lefty, whoco-designed the Lower course at Whisper Rock in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2001, hasalready lined up two projects. The first is River Rock, a new development inNorth Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains that will include a nine-hole par-3course designed by his coach, Rick Smith. The second, Diamante Cabo, will be anexclusive development north of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Several other deals arein the works. Wonder if any will have trees down the left side of the 18thfairway?... Speaking of Winged Foot, everyone is in a rush to portrayMickelson's 72nd-hole meltdown as his Jar-Jar Binks moment. (You know, when aonce great entity collapses into a death spin of permanent suckitude.) Not sofast. Mickelson has a history of up and down years and seems to use bad ones asmotivation to come back strong. (Bad 1999, good 2000; bad '03, good '04.) He'spositioned to do it again. During a leviathan break Lefty has been sweatingthrough almost daily workouts with personal trainer Sean Cochran and reportedlyis champing at the bit to get back inside the ropes (just not enough to fly toHawaii). He has even given up soda! What's more, Phil plans to continue pumpingup once he resumes playing to maintain his stamina and focus, an indicationthat he's in for the long FedEx haul. (That sound you just heard was TimFinchem exhaling.)
CBS ANALYST andChampions tour comedian Gary McCord (below) wasn't laughing last week when hespent two days at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale after doctors discovered aviral infection in the lining of his heart. McCord experienced chest pain whilebroadcasting the Merrill Lynch Shootout in November in Naples, Fla., and whenit persisted McCord scheduled a physical for Jan. 9 at Mayo. Doctors diagnosedthe infection and fluid buildup in his chest. The fluid was drained, and McCordwas admitted overnight before being released the next day with orders to rest.At press time he was still scheduled to appear at a charity event in Cabo SanLucas this week and to work for CBS at the Buick Invitational Jan. 25--28....Webb Simpson was named Carolinas Men's Player of the Year last Thursday. In the10 years the award has been given, six others have won it, and three--JonathanByrd, Bill Haas and D.J. Trahan--are now on Tour. Simpson could be the fourth.The 21-year-old from Raleigh plays for Wake Forest and is the country'stop-ranked amateur.
SUGGESTED WOODSBABY NAME OF THE WEEK Nike.
"It was a mistake for them not to be there."--PEPPER MILL, PAGE G15
For Sale
Enjoy the views on this 36-hole complex near LakeTahoe
WHAT Genoa Lakes
WHERE Genoa Lake, Nev.
COST $18 million
HOOK Two clubhouses, several restaurants and a pair of7,000-plus-yarders, one co-designed by Peter Jacobsen and the other by JohnnyMiller. Views of both the lakes and the mountains are stunning, which is whyUSA Today ranked the Jacobsen track among the Top Ten Courses to Die For.
FRINGE BENEFIT If Miller insults your favorite player,you can head out to the course and take a divot out of his back side.
KEY STAT
9
Career seconds for Charles Howell, against onewin.
• For complete Bob Hope Chrysler Classic coverage, goto SI.com/golf.
THREE PHOTOS
AGUSTIN TABARES/AP (PALMER)
 SHADOWOF THE MAN Arnold Palmer, 77, teamed with Loren Roberts to win one skin at theChampions Skins Game at Wailea in Wailea, Hawaii, last week. Jack Nicklaus andTom Watson won the event with nine skins.
PHOTO
GENOA LAKES (COURSE)
Genoa Lakes
PHOTO
STAN BADZ/PGA TOUR/WIREIMAGE.COM (MCCORD)