‘He’s Giving Jack Freaking Nicklaus a Full-Blown Lecture’: When a Teenage Phil Mickelson Silenced a Bunch of Golf Legends

Phil Mickelson always has been a vicious character. Lefty doesn’t hang back while speaking his mind. Over the years, we have seen the golfer fuming over several instances. However, long before becoming a pro golfer for the PGA Tour, Mickelson gave a lecture to the fellow golfing legend Jack Nicklaus. Today we take a look at the legendary moment which occurred during a session of Golf clinic in the ’90s.

Mickelson has been a fearless golfer for most of his career. But the 6 times Major Champion showed the symptoms of greatness when he had the opportunity to showcase his talents in front of some of the greats of the game.

A Golf clinic refers to providing a comprehensive package for all golfers, amateurs as well as professionals, to help their performance and let them reach their full potential. Phil decided to give Jack Nicklaus a full-blown lecture in one of these clinics. The story was revealed earlier this year through Mickelson’s unauthorized autobiography written by Alan Shipnuck.

Phil Mickelson once made Jack Nicklaus nervous

Earlier this year, famous golf author, Alan Shipnuck discussed Jack Nicklaus’ initial encounter with a young Lefty at a golf clinic in the extract from his unauthorized autobiography about Mickelson. According to the legend, Lee Trevino, Hale Irwin, Fred Couples, and Arnold Palmer were also present.

Paul Azinger shared the story with Shipnuck. He said, “The first time I saw him in action was a clinic at Grand Cypress, in Orlando. Phil had just turned pro. This had to be the greatest clinic ever: Nicklaus was there, Palmer, Trevino, Hale Irwin, Freddy [Couples]. Heavy hitters.”

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He then discusses how a young Mickelson decided to show his bold and amazing golf skills. Azinger said, “During the clinic, Phil pulls a guy out of the crowd and has him stand right in front of him and then hits a full-swing flop shot right over his head. These days you see stuff like that on social media, but 30 years ago?”

The incident led to the excitement of everyone in attendance in the crowd. However, the golfing legends who were present at the clinic were a bit worried for Lefty. Azinger added, “When the clinic was over and all the people had left, Jack and Arnold and Trevino—especially Trevino—gathered around Phil and said, ‘Son, don’t ever do that again. You’re gonna get yourself sued, you’re gonna get the Tour sued.’

After their worrying reaction, an unfazed Mickelson reportedly said, “’Guys, you don’t understand, there’s no way I can’t pull it off. What I do is . . .”. Phil Mickelson then proceeded to give the legends a lecture on the mechanism of the shot. This moment itself assured Azinger of how great of a career Mickelson will have in the future. He ended by saying, “I mean, he’s not even on Tour yet and he’s giving Jack Freaking Nicklaus a full-blown lecture.”

It’s fair to say it is the bold and charismatic character of Mickelson that had made the golfer a Hall of Famer. He went on to have 45 PGA Tour wins including 6 Major titles. Giving the great Jack Nicklaus may have been a little over the line, but the left-handed golfer has for sure lived up to the standards of the legends.

With Mickelson beginning a new chapter at LIV Golf, how do you rate his career? Let us know in the comments section below!

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