Mickelson Makes Move to Become Waffle Tycoon

By now, you've probably heard that the "People's Champion," Phil Mickelson will return to action next week at the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational following a six week hiatus to be with his wife and mother as they simultaneously battle breast caner.

We're sure to be inundated with sad, depressing stories leading up to the tournament about Phil and his family and rightly so - it's been a banner year for tragedy in the Mickelson household.

I'll attempt a moment of levity and tell you about a possible business deal that could endear Mickelson even more to the common man.

Nashville's Tennessean newspaper reported last week that Mickelson and two business partners have made a bid to buy a Nashville-based Waffle House franchise. According to the report the group's bid competes with an earlier offer from parent company Waffle House of Norcross, Ga., to buy the SouthEast Waffles franchisee out of bankruptcy for nearly $19 million.

Mickelson's investment group, GS Acquisitions LLC, is led by Terry Pefanis, who had this to say about the opportunity to purchase what would amount to a chain of 105 stores in four states.

"We think in these economic times, they will fare well," Pefanis said. Waffle House "offers an excellent value proposition to the customer for a modest price for (food) with high-quality ingredients," he said.

What Pefanis really meant here was that we believe Waffle House can be quite frightening in the light of day, but spend a few hours at your local watering hole fighting off the bad economy blues and you'll be eager eat until you're too tired to continue for like $5.

Personally, I love Waffle House, although I've only visited the establishment between the hours of 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. As comedian Jim Gaffigan put it, "their slogan should be it's 2 a.m., still time to make one more bad decision." Weekends often ended at Waffle House when I was living in Aiken, South Carolina, which I'm convinced has more Waffle Houses per capita than any other U.S. city.

Perhaps Mickelson can select a few successful stores and blend golf into the Waffle House brand. How about a closest to the pin contest on the par 3 out back; winner doesn't pay. Or customers could sink a 50-foot putt for a free order of hash browns.

Seriously, Phil if you can save 105 Waffle Houses that's as impressive and meaningful, especially to Southerners, as winning the PGA Championship. Who can't envision you walking to the tee at Augusta with a bright and shiny Waffle House logo on your bag?

The investigative reporting team at Golfer's Guide is still awaiting word on whether or not Tiger Woods plans to counter Mickelson's move by purchasing the International House of Pancakes.

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