Playing with Phil Mickelson at the Masters has its benefits  

AUGUSTA, Ga. ­— Because the years roll by, for a tiny variety of individuals in a tiny variety of fields, it turns into a factor: You’re a legend, whether or not you prefer it or not. So that you may as properly carry your self like one. Enter George Clooney, actor; Bruce Springsteen, musician; Jack Nicklaus, golfer. Dwelling legend, dwelling legend, dwelling legend.

Tony Finau, the 34-year-old golfer searching for his first main title, got here up within the sport watching two {golfing} legends on TV, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. He performed with Woods when Woods received the 2019 Masters. He noticed at shut vary what the person, a soon-to-be five-time Masters champion, did to shut and win, and he realized from it. On Thursday, he performed with Mickelson, a three-time winner at Augusta, for the primary time on the Masters. Finau was watching carefully. So was the group’s third, Sepp Straka.

“Sepp and I have been like, ‘Are you able to imagine how good he hits it?’” Finau mentioned on Thursday afternoon. Finau had shot one below. Straka had shot one over. Mickelson, 53, did, too. That rating, 73, put the 2 golfers in the course of the pack and in good place to make the 36-hole reduce. Eventually yr’s Masters, Mickelson and Brooks Koepka completed in a tie for second, 4 photographs behind Jon Rahm.

The threesome acquired to 17. The wind was swirly. All three gamers have been taking part in properly. Two marshals have been about 100 yards wanting the inexperienced. They famous the primary shot, stable and in the course of the green. The following man was in the course of the green, too, 20 yards previous the primary participant.

“That’s Phil,” the one marshal mentioned to the opposite.

Mickelson has been taking part in, by his requirements, some very unusual golf since final yr’s Masters. He completed forty seventh final week within the 54-man subject on the LIV Golf occasion at Doral, a course the place he’s received and infrequently performed properly up to now. However Augusta is Augusta for him, and that reality was not misplaced on Finau.

On the par-5 thirteenth, Finau performed a curving, electrical shot to the inexperienced off the pine straw. It dropped at thoughts a sure curving electrical shot off the pine straw at 13 that Mickelson as soon as performed, en path to his Masters win in 2010.

“That’s an incredible shot,” Mickelson mentioned to Finau.

“His shot there is a bit more well-known than mine,” Finau mentioned, speaking to 2 radio broadcasters from Utah, the place Finau lives, and a 3rd reporter. One of many radio males was Bob Casper, son of the Utah golf legend Billy Casper.

“Phil has at all times been nice to play with,” Finau mentioned. “He’s at all times giving out compliments whenever you hit an incredible shot. It’s been some time since I’ve performed with him. He’s on LIV and I’m on Tour, so it’s been some time.”

Finau’s perspective was watch and be taught, watch and be taught. Michelson’s swing is as lengthy and easy as Finau’s is brief and fiery. “This dude’s nonetheless acquired it within the tank,” Finau mentioned. “At his age? It’s fairly spectacular.”

Finau predicted that Mickelson would play Augusta properly at age 60 and past.

Over the inexperienced on 14 along with his second shot, Finau may have performed a conservative, garden-variety, safety-first working chip shot. As an alternative he hit a Phil Flop to a foot with such deftness that Michelson paid him the last word praise: he gave Finau a thumb’s up. A second like that may enhance the remainder of your {golfing} life.

Mickelson is aware of what it’s like, to be a golfer seeking to make an influence within the sport, taking part in with a legend.

“From the beginning of my profession, guys out right here have helped educate me and make me conscious of what’s happening,” Mickelson mentioned. “I keep in mind one of many first tournaments I performed as a professional was with Ben Crenshaw. Julie Crenshaw and Amy [Mickelson’s wife] walked round. Amy actually didn’t actually know what a birdie, bogey or par was. Julie Crenshaw shared that together with her. Ben shared lots of nice issues with me.

“I’ve had an opportunity to play with some nice previous champions right here. You at all times need to pay it ahead to all of the those who have given us such nice alternatives.”

Very cool. However, additionally, what you’ll anticipate from a legend.

When Woods received his fifth Masters title, Finau, sharing that last inexperienced with him, approached Woods to shake his hand. Woods let it morphed right into a hug. They signed scorecards side-by-side. All of the whereas, Finau was watching. Watching and studying. As Mickelson did when he performed with Crenshaw. As Woods did when he performed with Nicklaus. There’s at all times an earlier technology, a present technology, a technology arising. On it goes.

Michael Bamberger welcomes your feedback at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com

Michael Bamberger

Golf.com Contributor

Michael Bamberger writes for GOLF Journal and GOLF.com. Earlier than that, he spent almost 23 years as senior author for Sports activities Illustrated. After faculty, he labored as a newspaper reporter, first for the (Martha’s) Winery Gazette, later for The Philadelphia Inquirer. He has written quite a lot of books about golf and different topics, the latest of which is The Second Life of Tiger Woods. His journal work has been featured in a number of editions of The Finest American Sports activities Writing. He holds a U.S. patent on The E-Membership, a utility golf membership. In 2016, he was given the Donald Ross Award by the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the group’s highest honor.