Jon Rahm has provided an insight into what it is like to play a practice round with Phil Mickelson around Augusta National as the Spaniard prepares to defend his Masters title this month.
Fans absolutely cannot wait for this time of year. In the eyes of many, the golf season properly kicks off once the world’s best converge on Augusta National in the spring.
One phrase you will probably hear a lot over the next couple of weeks is how the television cameras do not do justice to the hills and slopes at Augusta. With that, it often takes a special short game to triumph in Georgia.
Love him or hate him, Phil Mickelson is unquestionably one of the most innovative golfers the game has seen. So it is absolutely no surprise that the 53-year-old is a three-time winner of the green jacket during his career.
Mickelson is known for his miraculous powers of recovery. Certainly, one of the shots of his career came in 2010 on the 13th hole.
Without saying anymore, most will be able to recall almost everything about that shot.
And it seems that his knowledge of the course has had an impact on the current Masters champion Jon Rahm.
Jon Rahm left amazed by Phil Mickelson after Augusta practice rounds
Speaking in his press conference ahead of LIV Golf Miami this week, Rahm explained how influential Mickelson had been in his time going to Augusta.
“I’ve played a lot of rounds with Phil. I’ve never heard him say the word, ‘no, I don’t want to share that, or I don’t know’. He’s been really receptive and very willing to share that information. He’s told me exactly what he’s saying right now many times, and many other different things that help you manage yourself around Augusta National,” he said.
“I’ve gotten the opportunity to be with him in a non-tournament week and spend time where we play 18 in the morning and then go in the afternoon and go hit some chip shots. And some spots in true Phil Mickelson fashion are ridiculous. Others, you may not think you might end there, but you can end up there. The truth is everywhere we went, he himself said I’ve been here before or I’ve seen somebody be there before.
“If you’ve seen it, and you’ve seen the shot be executed, you know it’s possible, so it gives you a little bit of an edge in a sense.”
Perfect playground for Lefty
If there was anywhere to play a practice round with Mickelson, it would surely be Augusta. Many of us would absolutely take simply holding the green when faced with any short game shot.
But Mickelson is an artist in those situations. And Augusta National is clearly one of the best canvases he could possibly be given.
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