19th Hole
‘It’s pitiful’ – Gary Player blasts treatment of Phil Mickelson
We’ve seen numerous people come out and criticize Phil Mickelson after his controversial comments regarding the potential Saudi League. Alternatively, there have been only a handful who have spoken out to defend the six-time major champion.
Add PGA Tour legend Gary Player to those who have defended “Lefty”.
Player described the reaction to Phil’s comments as proof that we live in a “litigious and critical society”.
“I have a special thought on Phil Mickelson. I think we live in a time now when we are such a judgmental society, a litigious society, a critical society, where people get crucified. The greatest PR man on the golf Tour in the last five or X amount of years has been Phil Mickelson. He has been the ideal man for a sponsor, for professional golf, for the public, the way he’s handled the public, with dignity and with love.
“And he makes a mistake, which every one of you in this room have made a damn mistake. We all have. And he said he’s sorry. But even the Lord God will forgive you of your inequities if you ask for forgiveness. And he made a mistake, and for everybody to be – I’ve heard him. I said, Hold your head up high. You’ve made a mistake. Everybody makes a mistake.”
“And he should go on with his life. I think it’s pitiful — I actually made a statement on television. I said, If there’s nobody that hasn’t made a mistake, I’d like to invite anybody in the world to have lunch with me at Augusta, and if you haven’t made a mistake, I’ll have lunch with you, but I’ll have lunch on my own. It’s amazing. From the epitome of perfection, he’s down there being crucified. It’s not right. That’s my opinion.”
Love him or hate him, The Masters doesn’t feel quite the same without Mickelson. This is the first time we haven’t seen Phil tee it up at Augusta since 1994.
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19th Hole
‘I think that’s a mistake’ – Brandel Chamblee questions surprise Luke Donald decision at Ryder Cup
For the first time since 1993, the European team has chosen to open the Ryder Cup with Foursomes rather than Fourball.
When asked why he made the decision, European captain Luke Donald indicated that he wanted to get out to a “fast start”.
“It’s pretty simple really, we feel like as a team, statistically, we are stronger in foursomes within our team than we would be in fourballs.”
“Why not get off to a fast start? That’s it.”
However, Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee has questioned the decision calling it a “mistake” on Golf Central.
“It is very important to win the first session from a momentum standpoint. But it’s significantly more important to lead after the first day. If you go back to 1997 to present, starting with fourballs allowed them to end with a strength on the first day, and mostly they’ve dominated in the foursomes.
“If you win the first session, you win the Ryder Cup about 60% of the time. But if you win the first day, you win 70% of the time. So in one fell swoop, he’s potentially thrown away a 10% chance, which is a monumental advantage given to the European side, and I think that’s a mistake.”
Team Europe shared their practice groups on Monday, giving a hint at what the potential pairings will be.
The European practice groups for today ??#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/6hiccEULqP
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 26, 2023
More from the 19th Hole
- Korn Ferry Tour pro disqualified while warming up on the practice range
- ‘I know what people want to see’ – Ex-Golf Channel’s Holly Sonders on her new topless sports league
- ‘Is this serious?’ – Jon Rahm hilariously reacts to knee-lock golf swing from Barstool Sports’ Big Cat
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19th Hole
Report: Solheim Cup star was dropped by captain on Friday afternoon for refusing to play with two of her teammates
According to a report, Celine Boutier asked for a partner change after her partner, Georgia Hall, underperformed during morning session of the Solheim Cup on Friday.
Boutier and Hall lost to the United States pairing of Andrea Lee and Danielle Kang one up.
Apparently, the European team captain Suzann Petterson obliged the request, and offered to put the Frenchwoman with Leona Maguire in the afternoon, but Boutier didn’t like that pairing either.
The report indicates that after Boutier refused to play with Maguire, she was sat by Petterson for the afternoon session. It did seem odd that one of Europe’s best players sat in the afternoon session after going down 4-0 after foursomes.
The report comes from Handicap 54 on X, who has gotten some interesting scoops in the past. His initial report told a similar version of the story without names.
I tell a “funny” situation that I found out about @thesolheimcup , from different sources. I'm not going to name names, for now.
Captain of one of the two teams receives the request from one of her best players (player A), who complained about the level of her teammate (player…
— HANDICAP 54 (@handicap_54) September 23, 2023
“Well, now I will give the names of this story. At the same time, I take this opportunity to clarify a detail that I explained poorly, but it is a detail that does not affect the fact. Why didn’t I tell them until now? I wanted to wait for the celebrations, and I wanted to wait for the Golf Sin Tags friends to say it (@gfcgolf and@alexlarrazabal1), who I knew had the same information and were on the course (I considered them to have priority).”
“The issue went like this: Céline Boutier, after Friday morning, asked Suzann Pettersen to play with someone other than Hall. Pettersen told [Boutier] that [s]he would play with Maguire (I explained that detail poorly) and Boutier refused. Therefore, Pettersen decided that Boutier would not play on that Friday afternoon.”
More from the 19th Hole
- Korn Ferry Tour pro disqualified while warming up on the practice range
- ‘I know what people want to see’ – Ex-Golf Channel’s Holly Sonders on her new topless sports league
- ‘Is this serious?’ – Jon Rahm hilariously reacts to knee-lock golf swing from Barstool Sports’ Big Cat
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19th Hole
Scottie Scheffler working with renowned putting coach following year of struggles on the green
Scottie Scheffler is coming off one of the best ball striking seasons in the history of golf. The number one ranked player in the world had a solid season, coming away with both a PLAYERS Championship and a Waste Management Phoenix Open win. However, with the way he played from tee to green he would most certainly have liked to come away with a major or two.
For the season, the former Longhorn remarkably ranked 1st in Strokes Gained Total, Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Strokes Gained: Approach. Unfortunately, he also ranked 151st in Strokes Gained: Putting.
After Scheffler arrived in Rome for this week’s Ryder Cup, he was seen on the putting green practicing with putting coach Phil Kenyon. Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis has since indicated that the duo began working together last week in Dallas, Texas.
Kenyon also works with Europe’s Tommy Fleetwood, so the dynamic of working with players on both Ryder Cup teams this week should be interesting to monitor.
More from the 19th Hole
- Korn Ferry Tour pro disqualified while warming up on the practice range
- ‘I know what people want to see’ – Ex-Golf Channel’s Holly Sonders on her new topless sports league
- ‘Is this serious?’ – Jon Rahm hilariously reacts to knee-lock golf swing from Barstool Sports’ Big Cat
New here?
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Brandel Chamblee launches blistering attack on Phil Mickelson and Patrick Cantlay
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David Hunter
Jun 8, 2022 at 10:58 pm
“The graves are filled with indispensable men.” To all Phil Mickelson fans, answer this question. What does, “Chasing blood money,” mean to you?
Imafitter
May 6, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Always liked Player, but now he’s owned by the Saudi government. He’s their boy, along with Greg. Wish they’d both just fade away.
America First
Apr 11, 2022 at 10:01 pm
And everyone of us is playing with Chinese made clubs and wearing Chinese apparel. We are funding our demise.
HR Fernández
Apr 11, 2022 at 3:21 pm
As much as people wanted to pile on on Mickelson and Player, CBS had Mickelson on the highlight reels of Augusta National during the tournament and even had a special with Player and Nicklaus.
Go figure….
PJ
Apr 9, 2022 at 10:33 am
It’s funny people are outraged by what Phil said and the SGL but won’t say one word about Nike and all of their crap products made in China. You remember China right? The same China that steals about $600B in intellectual property from the USA every year. The China that imprisons anyone that doesn’t see things “their way”. What about Nike and their America hating spokesman Colin Krapstick. If you want to hate on something then hate on China and Nike. China has done more damage than the Saudi regime could ever dream of doing, but you won’t because you are a hypocrite.
The PGA cartel is scared to death of the SGL but the SGL will happen. Pro golfers are independent contractors and they play to win money. If the SGL offers more money then they should be free to play where they want to.
HR Fernández
Apr 9, 2022 at 10:11 am
Truth be told, Augusta National have no room to brag about Civil Rights, their past is pretty shameful, and throwing money at in the present don’t change those facts.
The SGL is going to happen and even Fred Ridley had enough common sense not to touch that subject during his press conference.
Some of the companies who sponsor PGA Tour events are pretty shady themselves with equally shady Civil Rights records.
Me? I don’t care about Augusta National, the Saudis, and non of that political nonsense. After all, it doesn’t affect my life one bit.
UT Golfer
Apr 9, 2022 at 8:44 am
Player has a lot of nerve to say the things he did as he promoted the SGL on his shirt at the solemn first tee ceremonies. They banned his son last year for promoting golf balls at the first tee ceremony. Now Player is doing the same thing for the SGL. Will they ban Player? No, because he’s a three time past champion. It is shameless and arrogant for him to support Phil and conveniently not come out and admit that he is a supporter of the SGL. The PGA Tour made Player a multi-millionaire, but he now supports the SGL. I wonder how much the SGL is paying Player to promote them. Greed is a terrible thing!! Even at age 86!
U Track Infection Golfer
Apr 9, 2022 at 10:13 am
What a bunch of nonsense.
Do you say the same about your accomplishments?
I guess they are not yours.
Donna Perry
Apr 9, 2022 at 7:27 am
Says the man wearing the Saudi logo.
Tom
Apr 11, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Hey Donna,
If the Saudi’s paid me I’d wear the shirt also. I’ sure you would also. What a bunch of hypocrites, this society we live in. How come all the top women golfers show up and play the Saudi tournament??? They also all go to Dubai .. hypocrites all of them. The treatment of women over there is terrible… BUT .. money talks so they go and play. What a joke.
HR Fernández
Apr 11, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Well said Tom.
Dwal
Apr 9, 2022 at 7:10 am
Mickelson will be alright. The Saudis will welcome him with open arms and bags of cash, but he better watch what he says there because those scary motherf…….s might cut his tongue off and nail it to his forehead
AnnoyedWithYourDumbAss
Apr 8, 2022 at 10:42 pm
For too long, Saudi Arabia has been glorified in their sickening riches while journalists and critics get decapitated in a dark room in a dungeon. Gary Player can go fk himself for wearing that goddamn logo while helping Shill FIGJAM play the “victim”. Will Smith gets 10 years for a slap, but people like Phil and Gary get a slap on the wrist for being traitorous. FIGJAM doesn’t get a free pass for being generous and charitable. He should be kicked out of the Tour (not just merely kicked while he’s “down” sucking off Prince MBS) along with anyone else who plays for Saudi Golf. I bet you dollars to fast food cheeseburgers Der Trumperschnizel is also part of Saudi Golf.
Enough is enough.
Imafitter
Apr 8, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Sorry Gary, but you’re wrong, even though you get a check from the Saudi’s every year for promoting their tour. It’s the words that Phil used to describe your Saudi friends…”Mother-F**kers”. He could have described them a bit differently, especially since the just took their money to be at their tournament in Dubai. He bit two hands that feed him…PGA Tour and Saudi government. And Gary, supporting the Saudi’s, wear your clothing with their logo’s somewhere else. Maybe Russia or China would appreciate them more.
Bob
Apr 8, 2022 at 2:32 pm
Apartheid apologist standing up for the genocide apologist.
We seem to have an elitist problem.
HR Fernández
Apr 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Your comment shows your lack of knowledge of history or that of Gary Player during Apartheid.
If you like to look foolish, then carry on.
Bob
Apr 8, 2022 at 3:01 pm
Educate us, apartheid apologist apologist.
CT Smarterthanyou
Apr 8, 2022 at 5:19 pm
i got it for you “HR Fernandez”: remember mr player’s comments towards augusta???? talking about how rich they are but also how racist they are??? hes a rich white dude from south africa and hes over here lecturing us about augusta?????
now come tell me what your silly opinion is buddy……
HR Fernández
Apr 9, 2022 at 10:23 am
Do you deny the facts about Augusta National and its founders?
That’s not my opinion, those are the facts.
The problem is people like you who will not admit or even engage in an intellectual conversation about the real Bob Jones, Clifford Roberts, and Augusta National past and present.
Player called it for what it was back then and what still today.
Silly opinion? I only deal with facts CT.
Brian
Apr 9, 2022 at 4:05 am
LOL. You obviously don’t even know who Gary Player is.
HR Fernández
Apr 8, 2022 at 2:18 pm
I am to assume all of you feel the same way about Jack Nicklaus.
After all, he’s building a new golf course in Saudi Arabia.
I don’t care about your political views or come to debate them, I come here to read about golf and real news, not this click bait stuff that people like to write about.
Gary Player offered his opinion, just like Fred Ridley avoided answering the Saudi question in his press conference. It was their choice.
Mike
Apr 8, 2022 at 1:53 pm
Not giving the Saudis a pass but anyone here drive a (gas) car? Where the hell do you think some of that gas comes from? And when Nike (& other companies) were hit with all those child labor accusations, did you throw away all your swish crap? I think not.
Bill
Apr 8, 2022 at 1:29 pm
Mr.Player your sorry comments are unfounded.Phil’s comments were no mistake they were well throughout ,deliberate & with a specific gold in mind.Player where were you hiding while APARTHEID was happening in your country.Now is not the time to come out from underneath the rock.Mr.Player comment written by an old privileged white man in your age category.
Papichulosteve
Apr 8, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Weird, the guy sponsored by Golf Saudi doesn’t think comments with regards to the Saudi regime are overblown.
saying ‘he’s a good guy, and he just made a mistake’ is what you say about someone who stepped in your line,took a bad drop or put down a 4 when he really had a 5. It’s not reserved for a guy who tried to torpedo an entire professional sports league. Who hasn’t dabbled in a little light treason?
Khashoggi's Ghost
Apr 8, 2022 at 12:33 pm
What’s pitiful is Player wearing a Good Saudi logo on his collar. Take the blood money.
HR Fernández
Apr 11, 2022 at 3:26 pm
You would also, stop the hypocrisy.
DeezNuts6943
Apr 12, 2022 at 6:11 pm
You’re a moron.
That’s not how being a hypocrite works. You can’t say “well you would too – so look you’re also a hypocrite!!”
Not everyone lives their life to make another dollar. Plenty of players have turned the Saudi league down. Just cause you have no morals or integrity doesn’t mean we don’t.
joey5Picks
Apr 8, 2022 at 12:23 pm
FIGJAM apologized to the Saudis and LIV Golf, no one else. And he “apologized” “if my words are taken out of context”. He’s playing victim while trying to form a rival league and cozying up to a murderous regime. He’s not “cancelled”. He’s suffering the consequences of his actions
AJ Smith
Apr 8, 2022 at 11:52 am
Saudi money is a hell of a drug.
Hooded 4-iron
Apr 8, 2022 at 11:38 am
Sadly, Player has jumped the shark.
HR Fernández
Apr 8, 2022 at 10:36 am
He’s right, but this is American culture and behavior. Always kicking people when they are down.
Social media is a cancer that has created a new group of keyboard cowards who think they can say whatever they want to say and they can get away with it.
Before Facebook and all that other garbage, people wouldn’t dare to say the things they type to one’s face, unless they were willing to get the taste slapped out of their mouth.
Just like Steve…..
reeder
Apr 8, 2022 at 11:04 am
HR you nailed it! Most of social media is a cesspool to avoid.
Smith
Apr 8, 2022 at 10:23 am
Go back to doing la,e high kicks and peddling discount golf balls at the MAsters.
Porge
Apr 8, 2022 at 10:30 am
He’s absolutely correct. ???lots of keyboard cowards out there.
Gary Ahlert
Apr 8, 2022 at 3:23 pm
The way the PGA has treated Mickelson has been nothing less than a disgrace. The hypocrisy and dishonesty of the PGA tour is stunning. Their relations with China are now under investigation and rightly so. Phil’s language regarding the Saudi’s many have been rough, but the nonetheless correct. I have made it a point to watch less and less of PGA events. How dare the Master’s dis-invite Phil from playing. Who are these pompous phonies kidding? Phil should be screaming from the rooftops over the injustice of what has happened to him and filing a massive lawsuit against the PGA for restraint of trade as well as slander and libel.
HR Fernández
Apr 8, 2022 at 10:44 am
It will help if you learn how to type correctly, lol…
HR Fernández
Apr 8, 2022 at 10:45 am
Smith!