New LIV Golf signing explains Mickelson role in | Golf News

Michael La Sasso says the prospect to be taught from Phil Mickelson as half of his squad was the figuring out issue in his alternative to be a part of LIV Golf.

The Ole Miss graduate reached No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, competed for the United States in the Walker Cup, and captured the NCAA Championship before deciding to skip his remaining season of eligibility and flip skilled.

La Sasso, meanwhile, is at the start of his profession, and he explained his alternative not to pursue PGA Tour membership through the Korn Ferry Tour.

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the opportunity to be here,” he told reporters in Saudi Arabia. “Being able to travel the world and come to a place like this and have this as my pro debut, I can’t be grateful enough to be out here, and really, I’m so excited to play.”

“One of the things that went into my decision, when I was 10 years old, starting to play golf, like, goal for me was to play professional golf.

“Having people that have been very well-known in the golf space and are so skilled, and to give you the option to be a half of a group that’s with Phil, anyone that’s had so a lot expertise, I really feel like he’ll give you the option to reply any query that I throw at him, to have the flexibility to give you the option to ask anyone that on a daily foundation.

“That played a very big part in it for me because not every 21-year-old has the opportunity to be able to ask questions to those people. So that was a big factor for me. I think so far, I’m so grateful that I made the decision, and I am very happy to be here.”

La Sasso acknowledges the adjustment has been difficult before his first look, enduring the everyday newcomer teasing from his fellow gamers.

However, he considers Mickelson, who is lacking from LIV’s season-opener due to personal issues, along with teammates Cameron Tringale and Brendan Steele, can be essential to his growth this season.

“I’ve already learned so much, and it’s been a pretty short journey so far,” he said. “I’ve definitely had a couple rookie moves pulled on me early from the vets.

“But apart from that, being around these people, the fact that I can ask them questions and go to Phil and Cameron and Brendan for all the questions that I’ve, and the fact that they reply them and they need to see me succeed, it is the best factor ever. Actually being able to ask questions and be a half of that is fairly cool.”