Phil Mickelson has had a successful golf career so far. The 6-time major winning golfer is also known for betting small amounts of money with fellow golfers on the field. These are all ways that the golfer uses to make the game more fun for everyone. However, there was a time when Mickelson wasn’t having too much fun on the field while playing golf with his father. But his old man knew exactly what to say to get him to be involved in the game.
Sr. Mickelson recalled a special golf tale involving Phil Mickelson’s strange behavior
Phil Mickelson has been playing professional golf all around the world for years. And luckily for him, his father has been around to witness his games on the field. However, the former Navy Pilot missed the time he played a few rounds regularly with his son at the Mission Trails Golf Course.
The golf legend and his father used to play there when Mickelson was only 12-14 years old. And in an old interview, Sr Mickelson revealed how he set his son on track after seeing changes in his behavior on the field. It was when the golfer’s father came back after a week and Mickelson wanted to play golf with him.
Lefty’s father explained how things went that day with his son. “He hit the ball (on his first shot) and he kind of banged his club on the ground.” Phil Sr. said. “He wasn’t exactly happy with the shot. And I’m thinking I don’t remember seeing any kind of reaction like that before.
It turned out that Mickelson had been playing golf with his teenage friends while his dad was gone. “It happened again on the second or third shot. I said, ‘What are you doing? What’s this banging the club?’ Sr. Mickelson said. And the golf star replied, “Well, I didn’t like the shot.”
What did Sr. Mickelson do to make the banging stop?
But even after Mickelson’s father told him to stop, he continued banging his club on the ground. And eventually, Phil Sr. had enough of the golfer’s pumped-up temper. “If you’re banging your club like that, then you’re not having fun,” Sr. Mickelson pointed out. It was not a professional tournament, and missing a few shots was no big deal.
But Mickelson, who was determined to repeat his actions, did it again on the seventh hole. On reaching the ninth tee, Mickelson’s father gave him the ultimate choice. “You can either take your clubs and walk to the car,…or, you can walk with me. I’m going to enjoy the last two holes and I’ll meet you at the car.”
Understanding the seriousness of the situation and how much it meant for his father, Mickelson agreed to walk with him. And soon, when Phil Sr. leaned over to pick up the ball on the eighth hole, Lefty said, “Dad, I think I can have fun now.” The moment that his father was eagerly waiting for was finally visible. Mickelson’s dad revealed how that was the last time he ever saw his son banging the club on the ground.
