--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hate to play a tournament in which I'm…" description: "\"I hate to play a tournament in which I'm not contending. It's just not any fun for me.\" — Phil Mickelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/phil-mickelson-22558_contending_i-hate-to-play-a-tournament-in-which-i-m_1775299.png" --- # I hate to play a tournament in which I'm not contending… ![“I hate to play a tournament in which I'm not contending. It's just not any fun for me.” quote by Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/phil-mickelson-22558_contending_i-hate-to-play-a-tournament-in-which-i-m_1775299.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/phil-mickelson-22558_contending_i-hate-to-play-a-tournament-in-which-i-m_1775299.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/phil-mickelson-22558_contending_i-hate-to-play-a-tournament-in-which-i-m_1775299.png) > “I hate to play a tournament in which I'm not contending. It's just not any fun for me.” [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Competing without a chance to win removes enjoyment and purpose. **In simple terms:** No chance to win = no fun. Key Takeaway Seek contests where you can contend. Themes competition motivation fulfillment Mood frustrated reflective Type motivational personal When to use this quote - tournament play - personal goals - team selection Key Concepts sports psychology intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - Do you play for love of the game or for victory? - How does perceived chance affect enjoyment? A Different Perspective If you cannot win, consider stepping back or finding new challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contending/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-play-1527421/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Tournament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-tournament-272414/) [Tournament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tournament/) [Tournament Contending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tournament-contending-1814469/) ## Related quotes > [In an ideal world, the season would end, and the players would have two to three weeks by the beach. You'd have four to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/in-an-ideal-world-the-season-would-end-and-the-players-would-have-two/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [In tennis that's the beauty. You can always suit up the next week and play another tournament and always have the chance to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/in-tennis-that-s-the-beauty-you-can-always-suit-up-the-next-week-and/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [Once you play a tournament, you're playing against the golf course, you're playing against yourself and trying to do the best you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/once-you-play-a-tournament-you-re-playing-against-the-golf-course-you/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Every player would love to play a tournament like the World Cup at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaka/every-player-would-love-to-play-a-tournament-like-the-world-cup-at/) [Kaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaka/) > [When I play in a tournament, sometimes I'm feeling tired and don't want to play in the tournament. I don't want to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jahangir-khan/when-i-play-in-a-tournament-sometimes-i-m-feeling-tired-and-don-t/) [Jahangir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jahangir-khan/) > [When you play the same tournament as Federer, Murray, Djokovic and Rafa, they have more media than me, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-martin-del-potro/when-you-play-the-same-tournament-as-federer-murray-djokovic-and-rafa/) [Juan Martin del Potro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-martin-del-potro/) > [Stay in school, kids, and make sure that you play a lot of 'Street Fighter,' especially if you're going to play someone at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-woods/stay-in-school-kids-and-make-sure-that-you-play-a-lot-of-street/) [Xavier Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-woods/) > [You cannot just play tournament after tournament like maybe I did when I was 23, 24 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/you-cannot-just-play-tournament-after-tournament-like-maybe-i-did/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I hate it when I have to play a short set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/i-hate-it-when-i-have-to-play-a-short-set/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [I hate to play YouTube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-hate-to-play-youtube/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Love Me or Hate Me,But do Not play with Me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-me-or-hate-me-but-do-not-play-with-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate to play the I-live-in-the-country card, but it really takes all of the 'pack the kids into the car and run from here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-hate-to-play-the-i-live-in-the-country-card-but-it-really-takes-all/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [In 'The Hate U Give,' I play Big Mav', who was incarcerated for a number of years and is raising three children. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-hornsby/in-the-hate-u-give-i-play-big-mav-who-was-incarcerated-for-a-number/) [Russell Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-hornsby/) > [I would hate not to do a play every couple of years. I think it's not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-macfadyen/i-would-hate-not-to-do-a-play-every-couple-of-years-i-think-it-s-not/) [Matthew Macfadyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-macfadyen/) > [I'd hate to play someone who's morally correct all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-elordi/i-d-hate-to-play-someone-who-s-morally-correct-all-the-time/) [Jacob Elordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-elordi/) ## More by Phil Mickelson > [The only way to win tournaments is with the short game. Over half your shots out here are within 30 or 40 yards. Ballstriking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/the-only-way-to-win-tournaments-is-with-the-short-game-over-half-your/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [The final group, on Sunday at the Masters, is the greatest feeling in the world for a professional golfer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/the-final-group-on-sunday-at-the-masters-is-the-greatest-feeling-in/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [I think a college education is important no matter what you do in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/i-think-a-college-education-is-important-no-matter-what-you-do-in-life/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [The thing I was most proud of about today's round was that on this course everybody is going to make mistakes, but sometimes it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/the-thing-i-was-most-proud-of-about-today-s-round-was-that-on-this/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [I have come to understand and appreciate writers much more recently since I started working on a book last fall. Before that, I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/i-have-come-to-understand-and-appreciate-writers-much-more-recently/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [I have not found my perspective on my career change. What I have found is that my life in general has been more fulfilling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/i-have-not-found-my-perspective-on-my-career-change-what-i-have-found/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [I don't think my style of play is what has prevented me from winning major championships. I think that execution has been more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/i-don-t-think-my-style-of-play-is-what-has-prevented-me-from-winning/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [The more you study the course, the more you appreciate what a great test it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/the-more-you-study-the-course-the-more-you-appreciate-what-a-great/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [Its just as disappointing as it was thrilling to win the Masters. To come very close, to play so hard for 72 holes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/its-just-as-disappointing-as-it-was-thrilling-to-win-the-masters-to/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [I think it's more than whether or not you win or lose. It's having that opportunity on that final round, final nine, to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/i-think-it-s-more-than-whether-or-not-you-win-or-lose-it-s-having/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [My kids and I sometimes will just sit in my office and talk about what the world was like 68 million years ago. Amanda,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/my-kids-and-i-sometimes-will-just-sit-in-my-office-and-talk-about/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [What I like to do is to try to win as many tournaments and as many majors as I can, and with him \[Tiger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/what-i-like-to-do-is-to-try-to-win-as-many-tournaments-and-as-many/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [The winner of this tournament doesn't just win a major. He become a part of the history of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/the-winner-of-this-tournament-doesn-t-just-win-a-major-he-become-a/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [It'll be nice not to have to use my fake IDs anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/it-ll-be-nice-not-to-have-to-use-my-fake-ids-anymore/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) > [Well, you know, I don't really want to trade next year. I certainly enjoyed having the jacket put on me rather than putting it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mickelson/well-you-know-i-don-t-really-want-to-trade-next-year-i-certainly/) [Phil Mickelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) [Explore all 27 Phil Mickelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mickelson/) ## More Contending quotes > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [History more often records the brilliant successes and spectacular defeats of contending forces than the effect of war on the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-cable/history-more-often-records-the-brilliant-successes-and-spectacular/) [Mildred Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-cable/) > [The historian's distortion is more than technical, it is ideological; it is released into a world of contending interest, where any chosen emphasis supports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-historian-s-distortion-is-more-than-technical-it-is-ideological/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I've started to show the consistency in majors I had in regular tournaments back in 1998-2000 when I was contending nearly every week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-westwood/i-ve-started-to-show-the-consistency-in-majors-i-had-in-regular/) [Lee Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-westwood/) > [Without needing to be theoretically instructed, consciousness quickly realizes that it is the site of variously contending discourses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/without-needing-to-be-theoretically-instructed-consciousness-quickly/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [The truth is, most of those female stories that are contending for Oscars are directed by men. Let's be honest. I looked at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hardwicke/the-truth-is-most-of-those-female-stories-that-are-contending-for/) [Catherine Hardwicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hardwicke/) > [Pride takes innumerable forms but has only one end: self-glorification. That’s the motive and ultimate purpose of pride—to rob God of legitimate glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/pride-takes-innumerable-forms-but-has-only-one-end-self-glorification/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [It is not, perhaps, unreasonable to conclude, that a pure and perfect democracy is a thing not attainable by man, constituted as he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fraser-tytler/it-is-not-perhaps-unreasonable-to-conclude-that-a-pure-and-perfect/) [Alexander Fraser Tytler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fraser-tytler/) > [The true secret of natural goodness lies in the recognition of the contending rights of the Pairs of Opposites; there is no such antimony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dion-fortune/the-true-secret-of-natural-goodness-lies-in-the-recognition-of-the/) [Dion Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dion-fortune/) > [“Contending must be understood and exercised as an act of mercy toward those who doubt and those who have been deceied, regardless of whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-armstrong/contending-must-be-understood-and-exercised-as-an-act-of-mercy-toward/) [Aaron Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-armstrong/) > [There is no contending with necessity, and we should be very tender how we censure those that submit to it. It is one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-l-estrange/there-is-no-contending-with-necessity-and-we-should-be-very-tender/) [Roger L'Estrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-l-estrange/) > [Christians have an important role to play in contending that no human life is "devoid of value." We can do so through courageous protest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/christians-have-an-important-role-to-play-in-contending-that-no-human/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [To the extent that I come from a deeply religious tradition and have been contending with those beginnings all of my life - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/to-the-extent-that-i-come-from-a-deeply-religious-tradition-and-have/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [I am not carrying on a war of extermination against the Romans. I am contending for honor and empire. 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