There are obvious benefits to those practice-round money games: bragging rights, hitting shots that matter, and, yes, a little extra pocket change when things work out, as they did here Tuesday, with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas handing Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler a 1-up defeat. And to be sitting here with two wins so far this year, this has definitely been a successful year. But even when – if?
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But for Spieth, the more important work was done Wednesday at Whistling Straits. It’s the only major trophy Lefty has yet to win.
Conversely, for the three youngsters he played with Tuesday, everything is in front of them.
Then Rory McIlroy got involved.
The American was victorious at both the Players Championship and the Scottish Open earlier in the season and he believes the time will come for him to break his major duck. Sure enough, Spieth shot par or better all four rounds in his debut, shared the 54-hole lead and tied for second.
Fowler’s Players Championship success tasted all the sweeter given just before the tournament he’d topped a poll of “the most over-rated golfer”.
Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth walk to the tee on the fourth hole…
Throughout the match, there was spirited ribbing amongst the four.
Anticipating the showdown with Mickelson, Spieth suggested last week that he might bring the U.S. Open trophy he won at Chambers Bay and place it on every green. Spieth, who won this year’s Masters and U.S. Open and came within one shot of a playoff at the British Open, got downright nasty.
And then he might get to that situation and say, ‘Now what do I do?’ You hit a shot with certain unknowns. “That’s what this is all about”.
In addition to all the bets, Mickelson also never shuts up during these practice round games. A year off, it looks as though the young American players may turn the tide.
“If I go out and play on a Tuesday, I don’t get much out of it”, Thomas said. “And, they have incredible games”.
Phil: “I left mine in the locker room here.”Spieth: “Your U.S. Open trophy?”Phil: “No, my Wanamaker from 05!”
“He’s a great mentor who likes to see the game grow, and so he grabs guys who are still trying to find their feet and forms relationships”. So he is now paying it forward – literally.
“I looked at what Jack said in saying that they’re the easiest to win”.
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We’ll see if Spieth is capable of getting in Mickelson’s head. It’s known on tour as “Phil’s game”, with Mickelson usually inviting younger players to participate. He won the very next year, of course, and tied the tournament scoring record. Mickelson, who won the tournament in 2005 and finished one shot short of McIlroy last year, tees off at 2:30 p.m. with fellow former champions Jason Dufner and Padraig Harrington.
