In the upcoming biography by Alan Shipnuck titled “Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar”, former NBA star Charles Barkley has taken some shots at Tiger Woods.

• Related: The estimated tax Tiger Woods pays per day revealed

In an excerpt of the book which was recently published at The Fire Pit Collective. Barkley describes the “huge difference” between Mickelson and Woods.

“One of the reasons Phil has lasted so long is because he’s had a joyful life. Tiger won a bunch of tournaments, but there wasn’t much joy in it.”

The former NBA MVP added:

“Sure, Tiger is a better golfer. You’re just in awe of his talent. But it’s not fun to be around him. Everyone in his world is uptight and sh-t, afraid to say or do the wrong thing.

“Tiger himself has always acted like he’s under siege. Gimme a f–kin’ break — you’re just a golfer, dude. When you’re with Phil, you’re guaranteed to have fun. He makes people feel good. Everyone around him is always smiling. That’s a huge difference, man.”

In the past, Barkley has had a friendship with Woods. When Tiger had his infamous scandal back in November of 2009, that seemingly changed.

In 2017, Barkley said: “To this day, I don’t have any idea what happened. “After that … thing, he just stopped talking to us. That’s all I know.”

“I could understand if he was trying to get back with his wife at the time and she said, ‘Hey, get rid of all your old friends,’ and he called and said, ‘This is the situation.’ I would’ve understood that. But I just wish he would have been man enough to call and say that. To just disappear totally was disappointing.”

More from the 19th Hole

• ‘Hey Cypress, we took your best shot!’ – Golfer plays Cypress Point in 70mph howling wind
• The chaotic F1 season finale explained in golf terms is absolutely hilarious
• ‘Don’t drink and order Taco Bell on Uber Eats’ – John Daly’s Taco Bell order is pretty incredible

James Hahn is one of golf’s good guys.

Previously known as the player that performed Gangnam Style on the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale, he trumped that fame by winning the 2015 Northern Trust Open, and the Wells Fargo at Quail Hollow a year later.

• Related: Biographer claims this is the shock real reason why Mickelson and caddie Bones split

Whatever his record, the 40-year-old has always played the game in good spirits and, despite the fresh course and inclement weather, was clearly enjoying himself at this year’s Wells Fargo where a 66/68 start had him right in the mix for the weekend.

• Related: PGA Tour pro trolls his own wife before she hilariously roasts him in return

Having seen the overnight leader come back to the pack on Saturday, Hahn would have been aware that he was now challenging for a top position going into Sunday, and fancied his chances of holing a 24 foot putt on the 14th.

It wasn’t a great putt, never challenging the hole and left around two-and-a-half-feet for the par, but rather than dancing in the rain, Hahn somehow blamed a member of the crowd for eating chips.

As the clip below shows Hahn somehow heard the spectator eating from across the green, in pouring rain, whilst concentrating on his putt.

James Hahn was upset about how loud this fan was eating chips during his putt ? pic.twitter.com/x0sz720lae

— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) May 8, 2022

Fans can probably forgive him. It wasn’t the nicest of conditions. Some players were wearing multiple layers of clothing, some (like Day) were having a nightmare round.

Golf. Not all sun and smiles.

More from the 19th Hole

• 86-year-old Gary Player shows off remarkable club head and ball speed numbers
• ‘Absolutely disgusting’ – LPGA pro blasts Augusta National for its role in major venue change
• ‘Get it out of my face, man!’ – Brooks Koepka snatches phone from fan during tense exchange

For those of us of a certain vintage, the 1996 movie Happy Gilmore is filed somewhere in the memory banks, rarely failing to raise a laugh when mentioned.

• Related: Tour pro withdraws after embarrassing moment on the greens

The tale of a highly strung ice-hockey player that eventually overcomes his major rival, Shooter McGavin, and a host of stuffy golf club officials, is one that a lot of weekend golfers can identify with and, of course, it all ends happily.

So imagine the smiles amongst a lot of golf fans that read this tweet from Monday Q Info (Ryan French) last Friday:

This is 100% real.

A guy named Happy Gilmore shot an 80 (with a 10) at the local US Open Q.

(h/t @VarnerAndrew ) pic.twitter.com/cjQwmC9Vbv

— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) May 6, 2022

It turns out that ‘Happy’ is absolutely the name that he goes by, has done so since the age of five, and he is currently a 16-year-old sophomore in high school.

That’s a 16-year-old high school player with a score of 80 in a US Open Qualifier, all with a 10 on his card and a 35 for the back-nine!

Of course, that promoted a look at the replies with one respondent directing readers to Happy’s website where we learn that:

“Walking off the green his caddie lightens the mood with a quote from the movie Tin Cup: “I heard you put up a monster number there.”  

With the replies suggesting there are quite a few sophomores worth monitoring, the future for golf looks as healthy as it has ever done.

Just tap it in.

More from the 19th Hole

• ‘Hey Cypress, we took your best shot!’ – Golfer plays Cypress Point in 70mph howling wind
• The chaotic F1 season finale explained in golf terms is absolutely hilarious
• ‘Don’t drink and order Taco Bell on Uber Eats’ – John Daly’s Taco Bell order is pretty incredible