Phil has this one last title to claim, then retire.
He needs this one. He's up against gravity and age, and hasn't looked A+ since 2011. It's becoming harder, obviously.
When BBers are up against the real pressure of their career/legacy, and age, they often take measures they haven't taken in the past. More stimulant, different doses of whatever it is they dose, and of course, you throw in stress.
In the old days, a BBer would be a little nutty to those around them. Today they have thosuands of followers retweeting it. Flaws are magnified and compounded.