‘It’s not making me feel any better either way’ LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson locked in awkward exchange with reporter in Andalucia, Spain.

Mickelson Faces Reporter Gauntlet: Revisiting a Painful Memory at Royal Troon

In a tense prelude to the LIV Golf Andalucia event, Phil Mickelson found himself in a prickly exchange with a reporter who dared to dredge up a bitter memory from the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon. The conversation spotlighted Mickelson’s near-miss to Henrik Stenson, a topic that still seems to sting.

 

At 54, Mickelson’s trajectory in the world rankings has taken a nosedive to a current 203rd position, largely attributed to his $200 million move to LIV Golf in 2022. Despite this drop, the six-time major champion holds eligibility for the upcoming 152nd Open Championship at Troon, thanks to his triumphant claim of the Claret Jug at Muirfield in 2013.

 

The tension arose when Mickelson, known affectionately as “Lefty,” was prodded to revisit the final day showdown against Stenson from eight years prior. On that decisive day, Mickelson delivered a commendable round, shooting 65, only to be bested by Stenson’s extraordinary 63. The Swede finished at 20-under par, three shots ahead of Mickelson, with JB Holmes trailing 11 shots behind in third.

 

The palpable pain of that near miss still lingers for Mickelson. When a reporter broached the subject with, “Can I take you back to Troon?” Mickelson’s response was laced with sarcasm and frustration: “Sure, I love talking about my losses. Go ahead…”

 

The reporter pressed on, asking, “On that Sunday morning, if somebody told you you were going to get a 65 and not win, what would you have thought?” Mickelson’s reply was a mix of disbelief and resignation: “I wouldn’t have thought it was right. I thought I played a great final round, well enough to win, and it just wasn’t. Like I said, I played some of my best golf and it wasn’t enough to win, which is the first time I can remember that being the case, and I thought 65 for sure would be enough.”

 

The questioning continued with, “So is it your proudest defeat, if that sounds right?” Mickelson, through gritted teeth, responded: “I mean we keep framing my losses in different ways. It’s not making me feel any better either way. Like I said, it’s more the process, and having that opportunity to play great golf. To go head-to-head with somebody I have so much respect for; even though I still came up short I have this great life experience and this great memory and this great competition to look back on.

 

“I mean, I loved the week. I loved playing like that. I want to play like that again. That’s why I’m working hard. I love competing and having a chance to win like that. Even though I came up short, I thought it was a lot of fun to be a part of that.”

 

As Mickelson gears up for another shot at glory at the historic Troon, the echoes of past battles serve as both a painful reminder and a potent motivator for the enduring champion.