Getty Images
ROCHESTER, NY – We got a few hints as to how the proceedings were going a few hours ago, when the 9th hole marshals at Oak Hill Country Club were undergoing a shift change. The Marshal Commander had issued this warning to the newcomers.
“There was some harassment earlier,” he said. “So get ready.”
Oh boy. And that was at 1.
For those new here, Western New Yorkers love their bills, love their swords, hate their tailgate tables and roast their Genesee. But the most important thing here is that these wonderful people in the salt of the earth are not too afraid to tell you like it is. If you are a king, you are worshiped. If you are a vagabond, you are doomed. Of course, they both hear English that would make the green grass blush.
So, yeah, we’re ready.
Coming to hole #1 on the first day of the PGA Championship, it was anything but Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson, the 2021 PGA Champion. Mickelson, who hasn’t really defended that crown after 2022 like everyone else in golf — the words describing the Saudi financiers of the tour he’s playing now, the golf outing, the comeback, and the recent combative tweets. Oh, and Mickelson, your runner-up at the 2023 Masters. But if anyone was going to tell Lefty where he was, it would be this group.
Let’s listen. Maybe it tells us something.
Finishing with two holes remaining when play was suspended here Thursday due to darkness, Mickelson was six shots behind. The real story, though, was told by the agents, who, at times six to eight deep, ran to his shots to secure the best views—and didn’t stick with the players in the groups behind them.
“Showman!”
This came after his third shot at the par-4 10th, which he put to 3 feet. Left-handed entertainment. On a day when the pros were mostly courted by Oak Hill, Mickelson hit the putts. He hauled the par-4 6th after slapping his second putt into the lip of the bunker—more on that below—and messed up the par-3 11th after his tee shot came up short on the 248-yard hole, but he was mostly cleanup everywhere else. He waved a par-5 in the 13th after dropping his third putt to 7 feet, and his final shot the day before the play was suspended was an eyelash from the rough left, off 220, which somehow found the green on the par-4 17th.
Thursday was followed by a second-place finish at the Masters, though his play in the LIV game has been, at best, a mixed bag over the past month — 45 last week in Tulsa, 15th in Singapore at the end of last month, 16th overall. in Australia. in the middle of last month.
“I’m going to tears very soon,” Mickelson said at the Masters. “You wouldn’t think about it. You look at the results. But I was playing the way I did yesterday, hitting the ball great, turning 65 and 66 into 77. I’m ready for tears.”
“Oh, this must be left!”
“attention!”
The second citation came after the bunker shot on a 6, which hit the lip, came up almost straight and ended a few yards straight and to the right.
Of course, this is also Mickelson, forever the high wire did. suspense wil. The stranger is always just a swing away.
“Come on, Acer, you savage!”
Serialization on a par-4 8 was everything. Michelson slices left. One of his playing partners, Patrick Cantlay, hooked one up in this direction. Marshall first moved the fans to create a window on the green for Mickelson. Then he creates a window for Cantlay. Mickelson was now surrounded by the crowd. there is more.
As this box was beginning to form, a man wearing a blue quarter zip, shorts, and a cell approached. and closer. and closer. He looked around. He was literally crawling. Take a few more steps. He looked around. “Are you waiting?” Michelson asked. Michelson nodded. Then the man stood there. He had his chance. He didn’t say anything else. This was a bit disappointing. He took a picture
Cantlay hit. The Michelson window has been recreated. Mickelson hit it to the green. One fan exclaimed, “Come on left-handed, you’re wild!”
suspense wil. actually.
“There you are, my friend.”
It was Michelson himself. A level 3 walk, he gives his ball to a kid.
Forever a showman.
“Good looking, Phil!”
“Phil has become very thin.”
Nothing was left exposed. Mickelson’s physique, or lack of it somewhat now, was a target, though most of the ideas were compliments.
At least here, the people here were paying attention. Mickelson has spoken publicly over the past few years about his diet and weight loss, and last month at the Masters, he said he lost 25 pounds.
“I stopped eating, that was a big help,” Mickelson said then. “I lost 25 lbs. Then I had — I also lost muscle, so I had to start lifting, and I was going up slowly and getting my speed and power back to where I needed them.
“I’m going to keep going this year and keep going on that path because, if you watch like some of those guys here today, how far and how fast they’re able to swing the club, it’s really amazing. It doesn’t mean they’re going to win. You still have to hit and run your way through All over the game, running your game around the track, but I have to be in good shape to be able to get the speed to be competitive.”
“Oooh, snakeskin! What is this? Some kind of reptile! “
“Phil, that belt is really something special, man.” [Mickelson laughed.]
The Mickelson belt was really in vogue, though it had been worn in the past.
While we’ve been on the subject, his bag says HyFlyers, his team up with LIV. His cap and shirt also bore the crest. said the collar of his LIV Golf shirt. In particular , according to Wall Street Journal story Posted this past April, LIVers are required to wear “appropriate” team clothing.
“He counts millions of Saudis!”
These strikes were not frequent, but they were present.
It’s been over a year now since the Saudi Arabia commentary, and he’s competed in 14 LIV events, along with four Grand Slams.
Do the comments tell us anything?
Lack of comments?
Take all of this for what you want. Today, we’ll just note.
“Phil, smile for the camera! Tiger will!”
“Just Tiger Wins!”
Yes, they still talk about that tiger guy.
There is one last thing. Here’s how Mickelson ended his day in Oak Hill: A GOLF.com reporter saw him practice his swing. next to his car in the parking lot. I always think of swinging. Just like so many fans have watched.