Mickelsons ex-caddie showed true colors on 18th | Golf News

Phil Mickelson’s ex-caddie, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, lent a hand to JJ Spaun’s caddie, Mark Carens, by retrieving the 18th flag for him after Spaun’s gorgeous victory at the U.S. Open.

Spaun entered the main as a long shot with odds of 120/1, having never significantly contended for a title in his 13-year PGA Tour profession. However, over the course of 4 days, he managed to maintain his own against high gamers like Robert MacIntyre, Viktor Hovland, and Tyrrell Hatton, finally clinching his first main win.

Spaun broke down in tears after his resilient win and credited Tiger Woods for a function in his triumph. However, followers noticed an ‘awkward’ second with his spouse amid the celebrations. 

The Oakmont course was drenched with rain, inflicting many large names to falter under the difficult circumstances. Yet, Spaun maintained his high-level play, ultimately pulling off a large upset to secure the win.

This marks only his second victory as a PGA Tour member, coming on the heels of his career-best efficiency where he completed runner-up to Rory McIlroy at The Players Championship just a few months prior.

In the wake of their extraordinary triumph on the 18th gap, one thing they might have only fantasized about at the beginning of the week, Spaun and Carens forgot to accumulate the 18th flag as a souvenir.

Typically, the successful caddie snags the flag for his golfer, but Carens was preoccupied celebrating their victory.

However, shortly after they vacated the 18th gap, Mackay was noticed with the flag, which he later handed over to Carens in a show of sportsmanship from one caddie to one other.

Mackay has been offering commentary for NBC Sports since parting methods with Mickelson in 2017, and he returned to caddie for Justin Thomas for three years until 2024.

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Social media customers praised Mackay’s gesture of giving the flag to Carens as he and Spaun continued their celebrations.

Heading into the ultimate day, the American was thought of one of the favorites to clinch the main, as many top-ranked gamers struggled. Indeed, many faltered, including Spaun, who bogeyed his first three holes on Sunday, adopted by related missteps on the fifth and sixth. His dream run in the direction of the championship appeared to be ending.

However, Spaun turned issues around with birdies on the twelfth and 14th, sinking spectacular long putts even as Bob MacIntyre was closing in after a bogey on the fifteenth.

The American then birdied the seventeenth, understanding that a par would secure him the championship. A well-placed method shot landed him on the inexperienced, but he confronted a daunting 65-yard putt to win.

A two-putt would have led to a playoff with MacIntyre, but Spaun managed to sink it in one, securing a outstanding victory under extraordinary circumstances.