“I am going to have a hard time recalling the actual lines, but there are a lot of people who are really good. Phil is really good,” Jon Rahm said in an interview with Gabby Golf Girl, when asked about the biggest trash talkers in golf. Rahm, who has played across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV, said Phil Mickelson‘s name first when speaking of trash talkers, and well, their friendly banter is news to no one.

Like the time Jon Rahm defended Phil Mickelson’s legacy after his inflammatory comments about Saudi Arabia, their friendship seems strong despite their differing tour affiliations. However, in 2022, Rahm took a swipe at Mickelson after he criticized the PGA Tour, saying, “I love Phil, but I don’t know what he’s talking about.” This was in response to Mickelson’s claim that LIV was “trending upwards” while the PGA Tour was “trending downwards,” due to top players defecting to LIV. Rahm countered that the PGA Tour’s changes, including a new schedule, elevated events, increased purses, and a growing Player Impact Program, didn’t necessarily indicate a downward trend.

Speaking on the latest episode of Grant Horvat Golf on YouTube, Jon Rahm and NFL star Josh Allen teamed up for a friendly golf challenge. During the challenge, Rahm also poked fun at Mickelson, saying, “Not that golf isn’t hard enough, now I have to deal with him.”Being friends since their college days has made the golfers quite chummy with each other over the years.

Additionally, when was discussing about the pressure of playing in front of cameras and being watched by Phil Mickelson, saying, “Ain’t it weird though like you wouldn’t think you’re going to have any amounts of pressure but then something about a camera being there and you step up and you got John Ram and Phil Mickelson watching you swing the golf club.” To that, Rahm couldn’t help but admit that the latter is more intimidating, “I would say Phil is definitely the intimidating factor there”

While on the course, Rahm was strategizing about navigating the course, warning that Phil would try to bait him into short-sided shots. So, the on and off banter between these amazing golfers is quite common.

Well, Rahm and Mickelson aren’t the only golfer duo popular for their banter. 

Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods’s banter

The bond between Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods is more than just a friendship – it’s brother-like. Woods has even referred to JT as his younger brother. Their relationship has been put to the test over the years, with moments that have caught the eye of the golf world. One infamous incident that still gets talked about is when Woods handed Thomas a tampon as a prank during the Genesis Invitational in 2023. “If I offended anyone in any shape or form, I’m sorry. It was friends having fun. We play pranks on one another all the time,” Woods said, apologizing for the gesture.

Despite the tampon prank, Thomas has spoken highly of Woods, calling him his idol and expressing admiration for his golf game, work ethic, and even his qualities as a father. “He’s been a lot, man… I respect him so much. I looked up to him and his golf game, and how he won, how he went about it,” Thomas said. He also admired Woods’s qualities as a father, saying, “He loves being around his kids… He’s such a good dad.” Thomas shared a funny moment at the Presidents Cup where they yelled “I love me some me!” after Thomas made a putt, highlighting the lighthearted and playful side of their relationship. So, who is your favorite duo in golf? Let us know in the comment section below!