Phil Mickelson was ‘not happy about’ what talented young amateur did during a practice round ahead of The Masters

Phil Mickelson arrived at Augusta National with renewed confidence, fresh off strong LIV Golf performances this season. Yet, once again, The Masters proved elusive for the six-time major champion, as he fell short of the weekend in a tournament where he’s triumphed three times before.

Despite flashes of brilliance on the LIV circuit, Mickelson’s game failed to ignite at Augusta—a frustrating trend since his controversial PGA Tour exit in 2022. The tension between Lefty and the Tour flared again recently when he publicly criticized their ban of Wesley Bryan, who participated in LIV’s ‘The Duels’ event featuring YouTube stars and pros.

For Mickelson, these past few years have been a rollercoaster of defiance and disappointment. Once a perennial contender, his performances—including this year’s Masters—have mirrored the uneven trajectory of his post-PGA Tour career.

Missing the cut at Augusta, a place steeped in his legacy, would have stung. Yet ever the sportsman, Mickelson still took a moment to applaud Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited Masters victory—a gesture underscoring his complex relationship with the game’s establishment.

Why Phil Mickelson Got Upset With a Rookie at Masters Practice

Phil Mickelson loves playing practice rounds with young golfers during Masters week. And true to his style, he always wants to make it interesting – like a real game with something to win.

This year, 20-year-old Noah Kent played his first Masters. He got the chance to play a practice round with Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Michael Kim. Even though Kent didn’t make the final tournament, he showed everyone how good he is.

Dustin Johnson’s coach Claude Harmon told a funny story about what happened during their 9-hole practice game. Here’s what happened:

• Phil Mickelson and Kim played against Kent and Johnson
• The game was tied going to the last hole
• Phil Mickelson  Mickelson almost made a great shot, then told Kent: “Well, you guys lose”
• But Kent made an amazing long putt – and celebrated with a fist pump!
• Mickelson wasn’t happy about the celebration

Harmon said: “He and DJ played against Phil Mickelson and Michael Kim. I thought that was really important for Noah. I can’t think of anybody other than maybe Tiger Woods who you would want to play a practice round with during tournament week other than Phil Mickelson. The experience, the skills, the way he thinks about playing that golf course and playing that tournament. There is a reason why he has multiple green jackets. They played a match, it was tied going to the ninth hole. From the ninth fairway, Phil nearly made it, hit it to about two feet, and said to Noah, ‘well, you guys lose’. Noah hit it to about 15-20 feet and sunk it on them, and celebrated it with a little first pump, which Phil was not happy about. So I thought that was really, really great.”

That was clearly a bit playful from Harmon, but a young amateur taking a half from Mickelson on the last hole would definitely have annoyed the six-time major champion.

What Jack Nicklaus harshly said about Phil Mickelson 

The 54-year-old LIV Golf player faced sharp words from Nicklaus right before The Masters started.

When questioned about how Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson can still compete at their age, Nicklaus replied:

“Well, honestly, I’m not sure what standard Phil is playing these days. I suppose he’s still active. He’s with LIV Tour, correct? I don’t follow his play much anymore. But Tiger is injured. I expect Tiger to recover and return – he’ll turn 50 next year. He’ll likely join the Senior Tour and probably excel there. Tiger’s too competitive to quit. I’m certain he’ll continue. He won’t play for cash – he doesn’t need it. Tiger plays for the challenge. He thrives on competition, and obviously, he’s excellent at it.”

“Regarding Phil, I believe he’s remained competitive in occasional tournaments but not consistently in recent years. Don’t get me wrong – Phil’s been an excellent golfer. That’s undeniable. He’s absolutely been a top player. But to compare the two – Tiger has faced challenges and consistently bounced back each time. I’m confident he’ll do so again.”

Nicklaus’s comments came across as unduly critical. We should remember Phil Mickelson holds the record as the oldest major champion – he was 50 when he won the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

Without doubt, Phil Mickelson is one of golf’s all-time greats. Nicklaus’s remarks perhaps reveal lingering disapproval toward LIV Golf and its philosophy.

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