$300M Worth Phil Mickelson, Who’s Known as the Biggest Tipper on the PGA Tour, Once Received Massive Acclaim From the Director of a Golf Club

Phil Mickelson is widely known for his generous tipping of staff members at golf tournaments. During his days at the PGA, he would spend as much as $10,000 on tips to locker-room attendants, valet parking, on-ground volunteers, hotel hostesses, and more. These thoughtful acts have often taken notice, and one such incident was emanated by the director of golf at the Baltusrol Golf Club, Doug Steffen.

What did Steffen say about Phil Mickelson and his tipping?

Steffen had the pleasure to witness the generosity of Mickelson first-hand during the 2005 PGA Championship. Having secured the win by shooting a 4-under-par total of 276, Mickelson was quick to hand out tips to each and every member on the golf course.

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“Phil is one of the most generous men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing,” Steffen said. “The way he takes the time to meet all the staff and thank them for their work, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

That’s not the only time Phil, who has a net worth of $300 million, has tipped in excess. After securing his first green jacket at the 2004 Masters Tournament, Mickelson was seen giving bear hugs to club employees after handing out $1,000 in tips. It’s a normal day for Mickelson to spot children at lemonade stands and pay over a hundred dollars for a 50-cent cup.

However, it’s not just about the sweet victory tips on offer. Mickelson has made it a habit to provide bountiful gratuities to every staff member, regardless of his performance at that particular event.

After the disastrous 72nd hole at the Winged Foot golf club that deprived him of a US Open title, Mickelson sought out the course’s staff members and thanked them for their work, discreetly handing out a few thousand dollars to each.

Is tipping really necessary in golf?

While players like Mickelson hand out a fortune, several other golfers don’t empathize similarly. Tiger Woods has made more money than any other professional golfer on the planet, and yet he doesn’t tip limo drivers or high-end bartenders. The fact remains that tipping is not considered ‘essential’ but is still frowned upon when the ones who are used to receiving it don’t.

To get used to this unwritten condition, the members of the Korn Ferry Tour have set up tipping pointers during orientation, reminding them to tip at any possible juncture. Additionally, a $20 tip from each player is collected by the development Tour and handed out to locker room workers after the end of any golf tournament.

With Mickelson joining hands with the LIV Golf series, a number of PGA golf course members will be scowling over their luck. Estimated to have been paid over $200 million in his contract, it is fair to say that members of the International Golf Club in Boston, set to hold the fourth event of the LIV series, will be drowning in tips soon!

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