Phil Mickelson’s LIV Golf enterprise has been met with ferocious backlash. The 52-year-old was one of the first players to join the PIF-funded league on an eye-watering contract. But more than the public scrutiny, his future in the sport’s premier event, the Ryder Cup, has been thrown in doubt. His last appearance at the competition came in the delayed 2021 edition, where Mickelson was named as one of the vice-captains for Team USA. Ahead of the event in Whistling Straits, Mickelson was offered some pointers on the course, by none other than NFL player J.J. Watt.
Phil Mickelson offered intel by J.J. Watt
The Arizona Cardinals player, who made the trip to Whistling Straits before September’s Ryder Cup, shared some breathtaking pictures of the beautiful course. He was in awe of the spectacular views and well-maintained greenery, tweeting pictures through his Twitter account.
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The Whistling Straits golf course is one of the best in the country and was ranked 11th in the list of Golfweek’s 2021 list of ‘100 best public courses you can play’. It was the host for the originally scheduled 2020 Ryder Cup, which was shifted a year later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whistling Straits is just incredible.
Absolutely unreal course.
Ryder Cup in September is going to be spectacular.
(If you need some pointers @PhilMickelson just let me know. I took detailed notes) pic.twitter.com/FZlMCVcNWE
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 27, 2021
In the same tweet, Watt tagged Phil Mickelson and offered him some “detailed notes” ahead of the major tournament. During that time, Mickelson hadn’t qualified to be a part of the playing roster, nor was he appointed as one of the captains. However, he replied to the tweet in a hilarious fashion to keep the conversation going.
Mickelson’s amusing response to Watt’s offer
Responding to Watt’s tweet, Mickelson stated that it would be better if both of them could stay in their own lane. “How about I handle all the golf stuff and you sack the quarterback. Let’s both stay in our lanes,” he wrote accompanied by laughing emojis.
May 6, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Phil Mickelson hits his approach shot to the 9th green during the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports | REUTERS
The conversation wasn’t going to die down, as Watt believed there was an opportunity to do both. “I’m just saying… I’m ready,” he summed up in a tweet.
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sounds like there may be an opportunity coming up to do both.
I’m just saying… I’m ready. pic.twitter.com/iw52GY1cV1
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 27, 2021
While we don’t know whether Watt indeed shared his pointers to ‘Lefty’, Team USA romped to victory with a record 19–9 scoreline against the defending champions, Team Europe. Mickelson was announced as one of the final two vice-captains on the roster merely weeks before the tournament.
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Will Mickelson play another Ryder Cup during his tenure? Considering his age, it looks unlikely. Furthermore, he shared a strained relationship with the PGA Tour before the arrival of the LIV series, and further matters have only made things worse.
