Phil Mickelson once confronted Masters rival in | Golf News

Phil Mickelson once had a heated exchange with Vijay Singh in the locker room on the Masters over an concern concerning the LIV Golf star’s spikes. This incident dates back to 2005 when tensions have been high amongst high golfers together with Mickelson, Singh, Tiger Woods, and Ernie Els.

Singh, who was then the highest-ranked participant on the PGA Tour, allegedly complained about Mickelson’s spikes on the twelfth gap at Augusta National. It is alleged that Singh referred to as an official to complain concerning the marks left by Mickelson’s spikes, which had lately been switched from 6mm to 8mm.

Stuart Appleby, Mickelson’s enjoying accomplice, joked: “What are they going to send? A blacksmith?” The chair of Augusta National’s competitors committee later confirmed that Mickelson’s spikes have been by no means filed down. He acknowledged: “One of our officials talked to Phil to see if there was a burr on the side of one of his spikes. He very generously, as you know he would, said he would change them when he got in if there was a problem. There wasn’t.”

Mickelson believed that Singh might have dealt with the scenario more diplomatically, maybe by informing officers after the spherical. He mirrored afterwards: “I was extremely distracted and would have appreciated if it would have been handled differently or after the round. After sitting in the locker room for a while, I heard Vijay talking to other players about it, and I confronted him. He expressed his concerns. I expressed my disappointment with the way it was handled.”

However, Mickelson’s model of occasions are reported to be extraordinarily watered down. According to Golf WRX, he entered the locker room to listen to Singh criticising him to different gamers. It is claimed that Mickelson yelled at his rival – referred to as him a “mother——” – and instructed they settle their dispute outdoors.

This model of occasions is essentially supported by Woods’ caddie on the time, Steve Williams, on the Chasing Majors podcast.

“I think it was just Phil and Vijay,” stated Williams, who claimed that Mickelson’s spikes have been “certainly legal”. He continued: “I understand there was a bit of a heated conversation in the locker room. There’s no love lost between those two, that’s for sure.”

Mickelson completed tenth that yr, with Woods happening to win. The now-LIV star earned his third inexperienced jacket a yr later.

Mickelson got here to the protection of Singh in 2020 when Singh confronted backlash for taking a spot in a Korn Ferry Tour occasion, saying: “It’s no secret VJ and I aren’t close, but I’d like to say on his behalf that in addition to being a member of the HoF, he’s a big part of the PGA Tour’s success which financially subsidises, and always has, the KFT. He has earned the right to play when and where he wants.”

However, Singh has not but returned the favor following Mickelson’s controversial transfer to the LIV Golf tour in 2022.