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Is Phil Mickelson's choice of tough courses a sign of confidence or a risky gamble?

Phil Mickelson is back on YouTube and this time he is playing with a renowned content creator and golfer, Grant Horvat, who was once a D2 golfer at Palm Beach Atlantic University. This is not the first drill of the two golf enthusiasts. Before this, Lefty challenged Horvat over 18 holes but lost against him and wore Primo Golf Apparel joggers on all four days of the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

This time, a HyFlyers GC tattoo was at the stake if Horvat lost. But the content creator led the front nine with 3 strokes over Mickelson in the recent Phil vs Horvat YouTube video. But doesn’t mean that the golf course was not challenging. Being the San Diego resident and native, the 6-time major champion took Horvat to the golf course near his house in Rancho Santa Fe. The two faced the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. Horvat humorously complained, “You could have just taken us to a nice old easy course but boy he put us on a major championship venue here in San Diego.”

Now, the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club has never held a major championship but because of its difficulty, Horvat found that it could be a major venue. Even Mickelson agreed and gave an idea to the two major championship organizers, the US Open and PGA Championship, for a new venue. He said, “If you threw rough on this golf course it could hold a major.” Mickelson lost the previous 18-hole match against Horvat on the same course.

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So, he was not taking any chances to lose this one again. Lefty even called his wife, Amy Mickelson for a small pep talk as he trailed on the front nine. The results are still not out but as Mickelson has taken Grant Horvat to the Rancho Santa Fe GC two times now, is that his favorite course to play?

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Which golf course is most loved by Phil Mickelson?

Lefty has played more than 100 tournaments all around the world and won more than half of them. He has seen the best and most challenging golf courses as he played various major championships and emerged victorious in six. Out of all these golf courses, the one that takes a special place in Mickelson’s heart is the Pebble Beach Golf Links. He once said, “For a golfer, Pebble Beach and the surrounding area is a must-visit.”

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Mickelson has won there for record-tying five times and it is special for him because of his maternal grandfather, Al Santos. He was a caddie at Pebble Beach when the course opened in 1919 and that’s why the 6-time major champion loves the Pebble Beach Golf Links so much. However, when he needs to prepare for a major, Mickelson does not head to PB to practice.

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Is Phil Mickelson's choice of tough courses a sign of confidence or a risky gamble?

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For this, he goes over to The Farms, which is also in San Diego. He had said, “The Farms is one of the most challenging courses off the tee in Southern California. When I’m preparing for a major tournament (like the U.S. Open) and really want to test my driver, I come to The Farms.” Mickelson has been a member of the golf club for many years now and probably plays more there than at any other place. He may start proposing better golf courses for majors, once he retires from golf.

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