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On this week’s version of Golfer-to-Golfer, we hear from Phil Mickelson on the recommendation he acquired from Seve Ballesteros as an novice.
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Welcome to Golfer-to-Golfer, the place we attempt to study from all completely different sorts of avid gamers on the market, in hopes that the remainder of us can take away one thing that may enhance our personal video games.
Phil Mickelson is the best short-game participant of the fashionable era. Numerous instances over the course of his storied profession, we’ve seen Mickelson discover himself in a seemingly unattainable spot, solely to make use of contact and creativity to flee. Even when it looks like he’s bought no shot, Lefty finds a option to escape hazard.
Earlier than there was Phil Mickelson, although, there was Seve Ballesteros. All through his profession within the 70s, 80s and 90s, Ballesteros additionally discovered himself in quite a few unattainable spots. And, like Lefty, he at all times appeared to discover a method out of them.
Mickelson and Ballesteros sharing a taking part in fashion isn’t any accident. As a child in southern California, Mickelson regarded as much as the five-time main champ for inspiration in his personal recreation, and he got here to emulate his hero as he improved.
“Seve was the man I needed to play a follow spherical with essentially the most,” Mickelson stated after Ballesteros’ passing. “He’s actually had an impression on the sport.”
As soon as Mickelson reached the professional ranks within the early 90s, that follow spherical got here to fruition. And within the years to return, Lefty and Ballesteros grew to become mates, training collectively throughout the globe.
The primary time Mickelson met Ballesteros, at Valderrama, host of this week’s LIV Golf occasion, the Spaniard took Mickelson underneath his wing, exhibiting the younger professional the ins and outs of follow rounds throughout their time collectively.
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“It was little issues like ‘Come over right here, hit this shot,’ and he would hit a bit flop shot out of the tough,” Mickelson stated. “It will be taking part in a follow spherical and have him hitting a shot to a again proper pin when the pin on the follow day is entrance heart, and he’s speaking about on the point of play, compete and work on the pictures he’s needed to play within the competitors. That was for a 17 yr previous a bit eye opening.”
For the uber-competitive Mickelson, this was a bit completely different than his typical prep work. Lefty’s MO has at all times been to win in any respect prices — even when it was in a Tuesday follow spherical. However, as Ballesteros taught him, the prep work you do early within the week could be the distinction between profitable and shedding come the weekend.
“I’m on the market attempting to shoot a quantity and rating on a Tuesday follow spherical,” Mickelson stated. “Which made no sense.”
That’s to not say that Ballesteros and Mickelson by no means bought to be aggressive with each other. Ballesteros was additionally a fierce competitor, and he’d drag Mickelson into all types of competitions the place every may exhibit their short-game prowess.
“Then we each have been with Hugo Boss and do photograph shoots collectively and in between breaks we might have little bunker competitions, chipping competitions,” Mickelson stated. “And the time that I spent with him actually meant lots to me.”
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