LIV Golf stars give their true thoughts about Phil Mickelson's behaviour

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers GC team, consisting of Cameron Tringale, Brendan Steele and Andy Ogletree, all spoke to the media ahead of LIV Golf's return in Virginia
When it comes to Phil Mickelson, you would be hard pressed to find anybody who has a negative opinion of him. The 54-year-old was at the centre of admiration as his LIV Golf team-mates heaped praise on his incredible career and enduring thirst for knowledge.
During a press event for the upcoming Saudi-backed series in Virginia, Mickelson's HyFlyers GC squad waxed lyrical about him. His team members, including Cameron Tringale, Brendan Steele and Andy Ogletree, all stepped up to the mic to speak with media representatives.
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Questions naturally gravitated towards six-time major winner Mickelson, particularly after he hinted that the upcoming US Open could be his last at Oakmont Country Club, a venue where he's notoriously finished as a runner-up six times.
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Joaquin Neimann, who captains Torque GC, didn't hold back in lauding Mickelson's relentless drive for self-improvement despite an already monumental career. "He wants to learn," the Chilean golf star said.
"He has a lot of information between his church book at the Masters. He was making me hit putts from all over the place, 'know this, remember this'. I know he's that way and he works that way, and he thinks that he will get better that way."
When asked to evaluate the legacy of 'Lefty', Mickelson's team-mates Steele, Tringale and Ogletree paid a heartfelt tribute to their captain, unanimously praising his work ethic, selflessness and generosity.
Steele, 42, sang Mickelson's praises, saying: "From the first time that I met him through to this very day, it's really incredible. It's infectious. He's always helped me a ton on and off the golf course.
"I just never see the guy slow down. He is just an incredible player. The longevity that he's had, how strong he is still, how far he hits it, how hard he works. Everything that he does still is really incredible. Just a model for me to follow after."
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Tringale, 37, echoed Steele's sentiments, saying: "I think we all have tremendous respect for Phil. With what he's done in the game, and I can say personally just from the last couple years, off the golf course.
"Phil is one of the best people I know. He's selfless. When you interact with him, it's meaningful. I think it's authentic.
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"I think the way people feel, the way I feel when I leave an engagement with Phil is always better. I think that's something a lot of people don't know unless they've been lucky enough to have an encounter with Phil."
At the age of 27, Ogletree couldn't be more elated about having the chance to tap into Mickelson's wisdom. The young American golfer expressed his immense appreciation for Mickelson's mentorship, saying: "Getting to know Phil personally has been an amazing experience.
"There's not a time that goes by where he's not reaching out and asking how everything is going. He's very involved, as involved as we want him to be with any question that we might ask.
"I feel very comfortable asking Phil anything from golf to life to anything, and he's been very generous with his time and helping me with my swing and with my short game and with anything that I might want to ask him.
"For that, I'm just truly grateful. To be able to pick the brain of one of the greatest of all time is a really cool thing to be able to do."