Phil Mickelson would be a welcomed winner in Charlotte.

The big lefty, who admits he is on the backside of his playing bell curve, fired a 64 Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club.

Until that happened, Roy Williams was the biggest name on the course after he and Mack Brown played in the pro-am that was named for the retired Carolina basketball coach. Mickelson, Ol’ Roy’s buddy, came up big in the first round, admitting afterward that at 51 he is battling concentration and focus problems.

Mickelson made one bogey early in the round and was flawless from then on. He is not only the biggest name playing in Charlotte, he is also the target of the so-called “golf super league” that wants to compete with the PGA and USGA offering mega-purses.

The Premier Golf League, or PGL, is the dream of ultra-wealthy European investors who are trying to steal some of the thunder from professional golf. Most of the tour players, still interested in winning the four majors, are saying no even if the PGL gets off the ground.

But Mickelson may see it as an opportunity to end his career in the spotlight, possibly joined by Tiger Woods when he returns from his gruesome leg injury after his car crash in California. Woods may be out of the running to win three more majors and tie Jack Nicklaus’ career 18, but he remains the world’s biggest name in golf.

So Tiger and Phil would command the most money if they walked away from the American tour they helped build with their popularity and golf greatness. For them, it would be like a Super Senior League that would command TV coverage and more money. Do the two aging golf greats owe it to the PGA and USGA to stay and play into their retirement, or will they headline the new league?

It would have to be one or the other for now, since anyone who defects would be barred from also playing on the American tour and perhaps banned for life.

All of professional sports seem like on the brink of change. Why not golf? Mickelson and Woods would be guaranteed millions in appearance fees and finish their careers on the world stage instead of limping into retirement on the senior tour.


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