Sports

1 Year After His Bizarre Silent Act, Phil Mickelson’s ‘Masters Dinner’ Photo Triggers Wild Debate Yet Again

Some things never get old. The Champions dinner before the Masters, for example, and Phil Mickelson somehow ending up on the wrong side once again. Last year, reports emerged that Lefty was unusually quiet during the dinner. Uncharacteristic, yes. But the tensions were heavy in April last year. This year, though, the mood looks more jovial.

As the PGA Tour and LIV Golf work on the framework agreement, golfers on both sides aim to resolve their differences. Yet, Mickelson looks to be in constant ‘terror,’ fans point out.

Phil Mickelson looks much older than Nick Faldo

With a broad smile on his face, Lefty stood in the back row between Nick Faldo and Sergio Garcia. Mickelson, though, looked much older than the Brit standing right next to him, despite being 13 years younger. Fans wondered what might be bogging him down ahead of the 2024 Masters. Notably, Mickelson’s name was also missing from the pre-Masters press conference.

Mickelson’s absence in the press conference shouldn’t really come as a surprise, however. Instead, it is actually a repeat episode. Last year, Sports Illustrated reported that his absence in the 2023 pre-Masters presser wasn’t on account of the PGA Tour disinviting him; instead, Mickelson declined the offer himself. In 2022, Mickelson decided to take a break that was later owed to his involvement with LIV Golf during its early days. The Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley then commented,

We did not disinvite Phil. He is a three-time Masters champion … Phil reached out to me, I think in late February, early March and let me know he did not intend to play. That was by way of text. I thanked him for his courtesy of letting me know.” This was just days after his controversial statements about LIV Golf were reported by Alan Shipnuck.

Moreover, Phil Mickelson was uncharacteristically silent at the 2023 Champions Dinner. The conversation didn’t veer around the PGA Tour-LIV Golf divide. Yet Lefty was visibly uncomfortable, sitting silently in the corner. Fuzzy Zoeller, the last debutant to don the Green Jacket, told The Augusta Chronicle, “We’re just 33 past champions in a room, all trying to get along. Nobody said a word about it [LIV Golf]. Phil sat near the end of the table and kept to himself. He didn’t speak at all.

The situation was more tense last year. The June 6 merger announcement was not in sight. Until then, both parties were involved in court wrangling. There might have been heavy air hanging around the dinner table. Although that’s not the case anymore, fans believe Phil Mickelson is still under a lot of pressure.

LIV Golf has taken a toll on Lefty’s health, fans proclaim

Fans can’t believe it’s the same person who made a spectacular late charge last year to tie for the second spot. Mickelson also became the oldest major winner in 2021. The noticeable change in his appearance is dramatic. One fan wrote, “I don’t know what the Saudi’s have been doing to Phil’s face, but in five years he is going to be nothing but a shrunken head at this rate.” Another fan commented, “What they feeding these guys on the LIV tour?

There are enough reasons for Mickelson to look concerned. He is working with a new caddie after his brother retired. His game hasn’t looked sharp enough. And, most importantly, it’s a venue where he has consistently performed well, and expectations are always higher when the 45-time PGA Tour winner tees up at Augusta. One fan feels Mickelson looks “older than Joe Biden.” Another fan, too, compared him with the POTUS. The same zoomed-in picture got another comment, “Please Somebody get me a cheeseburger.

Let’s not forget that Mickelson was in the thick of it all after his controversial comments regarding PIF officials were published by Alan Shipnuck back in 2022. On Feb 16, Mickelson was even reported to say in The Fire Pit Collective, “They’re scary m*****f***ers to get involved with.”

Although he has since apologized and claimed he was misinterpreted on many occasions, this fan feels Mickelson lives under constant terror.

Every photo Mickelson has been in since he’s joined LIV feels like he can tell the exact moment you will perish. Constant terror on his face https://t.co/UBLRpAuoUD

— Patrick Berryman (@peajbe) April 10, 2024

Phil Mickelson will tee up with Sepp Straka and Tony Finau at 9.36 AM ET on Thursday and 12.48 PM ET on Friday. We have to wait till then to know if, indeed, the six-time Major winner has grown older than he should’ve been in a year.

Related Posts

Lakers Rui Hachimura Becoming Untradeable?

Rui Hachimura has been impressive so far this NBA season, showing consistent improvement and becoming a reliable contributor for the Lakers. His strong play has not gone unnoticed,…

Meet JJ Redick’s NEW 7’1” DEFENSIVE WEAPON For Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers | Christian Koloko

The Lakers may have found the perfect defensive anchor to support Anthony Davis—Christian Koloko. Standing at 7’1”, Koloko is the latest addition to JJ Redick’s system, and he’s…

Lando Norris Mocks Kelly Piquet After She Defends Verstappen with Bold Statement

In the aftermath of the controversial Mexican Grand Prix, Lando Norris took a jab at Kelly Piquet after she defended her partner, Max Verstappen. The Dutch driver had…

ผู้เล่น Man Utd ถูกกล่าวหาว่าก่อวินาศกรรม Erik ten Hag: “พวกเขาเล่นได้ไม่ดีโดยมีจุดประสงค์เพื่อเอาเขาออกไป”

แมนเชสเตอร์ ยูไนเต็ด สร้างความฮือฮาด้วยการเอาชนะเลสเตอร์ ซิตี้ 5-2 ในเกมคาราบาว คัพ รอบ 4 ซึ่งถือเป็นครั้งแรกที่ทีมยิงได้ 5 ประตูในนัดเดียว นับตั้งแต่เดือนสิงหาคม 2021 การยิงประตูอย่างต่อเนื่องที่ไม่เคยเกิดขึ้นมาก่อนนี้ทำให้เกิดข่าวลือและข้อกล่าวหาว่านักเตะของยูไนเต็ดอาจเก็บตัวภายใต้การคุมทีมของ เอริก เทน ฮาก โดยบางแหล่งกล่าวหาว่านักเตะเหล่านี้เล่นได้แย่ในเกมที่ผ่านมา เพื่อทำลายตำแหน่งของเขา เกมดังกล่าวเป็นผลงานของกาเซมิโร่ที่ยิงประตูแรกได้สำเร็จด้วยลูกยิงไกล 25 หลา ซึ่งทำให้แดนนี่ วอร์ด ของเลสเตอร์ โดนตรึงอยู่กับจุดโทษ หลังจากนั้นไม่นาน…

เชียเรอร์ ชี้หนึ่งในปัจจัยสำคัญทำให้ เทน ฮาก กระเด็นจากเก้าอี้กุนซือ แมนยู

อลัน เชียเรอร์ เชื่อว่าการเซ็นสัญญากับ แอนโทนี่ เป็นหนึ่งในสาเหตุสำคัญที่ทำให้ เอริค เทน ฮาก โดนไล่ออกจากกุนซือ แมนเชสเตอร์ ยูไนเต็ด “เอริค เทน ฮาก คงจะพูดถูกเกี่ยวกับ 2 แชมป์ที่เขาคว้ามาได้ แต่ แมนฯ ยูไนเต็ด จบฤดูกาลที่แล้วด้วยอันดับ 8 ปัจจุบันพวกเขาอยู่ที่ 14 และสโมสรที่ยิ่งใหญ่แบบนี้ย่อมจะถูกตัดสินจากอันดับใน พรีเมียร์ลีก เป็นเรื่องธรรมดา” เชียเรอร์ บอกกับ Betfair…

JJ Redick’s Lakers GAMEPLAN and Keys to Victory vs Cavs! | Lakers vs Cavaliers Preview!

The Lakers, under head coach JJ Redick, have been riding a wave of momentum, and they’re gearing up to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Redick’s gameplan has transformed…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *