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Phil Mickelson involved in social media spat with Luke Donald over green-reading books

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Phil Mickelson and Luke Donald aired their difference of opinion on the subject of green-reading books on social media this week – with the former believing that they can help speed up the game.

The five-time major champion initially tweeted on the subject after green-reading books came in for criticism for contributing to slow play following the incident at The Northern Trust involving Bryson DeChambeau.

Replying to a tweet from Rickie Fowler’s caddie, Mickelson stated on the subject

“The greens book allows me to do 80% of my read before I even get to the green. For anyone to say they slow up play is flat out idiotic.”

While that view was called “100% correct” by Ian Poulter, one man who wasn’t in agreement was Donald. Replying to Mickelson’s take, Donald stated

“Guess I’m an idiot then. One thing I don’t understand here is for a greens book to be effective you have to know exactly where your ball is on the green relative to the hole – how can you have done 80% of your read then before you’ve even got to the green??”

Uninterested in debating his view on the subject, Mickelson replied to Donald saying “We agree on one thing at least”, which appears to be in reference to Donald’s opening line to the 49-year-old.

Looking to defuse the situation, Eddie Pepperell, who apologized to Bryson DeChambeau on Monday after he had called him a “single-minded twit” on the platform, tweeted both Mickelson and Donald, saying “Alright, let’s calm down guys and keep the infighting to me and Bryson.”

Do you feel that green-reading books are a help or a hindrance in the battle against slow play, WRXers?

 

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

19th Hole

Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’

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While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.

“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”

Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.

“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”

The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.

“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”

Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).

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19th Hole

Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam

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While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.

On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.

“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.

“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”

The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.

It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.

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19th Hole

Gary Player claims this is what ‘completely ruined’ Tiger Woods’ career

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While speaking with KW Golf, golf legend Gary Player said that he believes swing coaches ruined the career of Tiger Woods.

“The US Open at Pebble Beach, he won by 15 shots. You know what that’s like? It’s like running the 100 meters in seven seconds. The next week, he’s having a lesson from a man who, I don’t think, if he played in the Masters, could break 80.”

“And then he goes to another guy who couldn’t probably break 85 in the Masters with the pressure, or the British Open or the PGA on the final day. And he’s having lessons from them.”

“Why did Tiger do that? He was so good, but I understand he wanted to get better,” Player went on. “If he had just gone along and never changed, he would have won at least 22.. He would’ve gone down as the greatest athlete the world has ever seen.”

In 2008, Woods had won 14 majors and was 33 years old. It would take him eleven years to win his 15th at the 2019 Masters.

In addition to the swing coach issue, there are many other issues throughout the career of Woods that golf fans will look back on and wonder “what if.”

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