Opinion & Analysis
Why a furious Phil Mickelson confronted Vijay Singh in the locker room at the 2005 Masters
The 2005 Masters has gone down in folklore for that chip-in on 16 on Sunday that paved the way for Tiger Woods to end his three-year major ‘drought’ and kickstart his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus.
However, plenty of drama preceded Woods’ stunning victory that week.
At the time, Vijay Singh held the top spot in the World Rankings, followed by Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els – to comprise The Big Four.
Unlike most of today’s elite pros, 17 years ago, there was constant friction between the elite players at the top of the World Rankings.
While Mickelson and Woods’ testy relationship at this period in their careers has long been documented, Singh was another man who had no problem needling any of the other big four. And three weeks before the 2005 Masters, the Fijian did just that.
At Bay Hill, tour player Tom Pernice, a friend of Singh, reportedly asked officials to check the coefficient of restitution (spring-like effect) of Woods’ driver. Many believed the request was a Machiavellian move by Singh, with the club adjudged to be comfortably within the legal limits.
With relations terse between the four alpha players and the intensity of the Masters on the horizon, it’s perhaps, in hindsight, no surprise that there was trouble coming at Augusta National, where Singh decided to ruffle some more feathers.
The controversy began on the 12th hole on Friday, when Singh, playing a group behind Mickelson, called in a rules official. The 2000 champ complained to the official that Mickelson’s spikes were leaving significant marks in the green.
Lefty had switched to 8mm metal spikes from 6mm a few weeks before the event, and when the official approached him on the 13th green regarding Singh’s complaint, Mickelson was told that another official would come and ‘file down’ his spikes.
Mickelson’s playing partner that day was Stuart Appleby, who, per his caddie, hilariously quipped at the time: “What are they going to send? A blacksmith?”
The filing never happened, with Will Nicholson, chair of Augusta National’s competition committee telling media: “One of our officials talked to Phil to see if there was a burr on the side of one of his spikes. He very generously, as you know he would, said he would change them when he got in if there was a problem. There wasn’t.”
The drama, however, was far from over.
Addressing the media following his round, Mickelson revealed that he confronted Vijay in the locker room after he heard him talking to other players about the incident.
“I was extremely distracted and would have appreciated if it would have been handled differently or after the round. After sitting in the locker room for a while, I heard Vijay talking to other players about it, and I confronted him. He expressed his concerns. I expressed my disappointment with the way it was handled.’’
According to sources at the time, however, it appears that Mickelson was giving a heavily watered-down version of the confrontation.
Per multiple inside sources, Mickelson entered Augusta’s champions locker room after his round and overheard Singh criticizing him to other champions present. That sparked Mickelson to yell at Singh and call him a “motherf—-r” before asking him if he wanted to settle the issue outside. Singh did not.
Vijay did not speak to media after his round either.
On a recent episode of the podcast ‘Chasing Majors’, Tiger’s caddie at the time, Steve Williams, confirmed that there was a very heated discussion in the locker room but remained tight-lipped on the juicy details.
“I think it was just Phil and Vijay,” said Steve Williams about the whole situation. Williams admitted that the spikes marks were longer than normal ones would leave but that “they were within the… they were certainly legal..
“I understand there was a bit of a heated conversation in the locker room.” Williams added. “There’s no love lost between those two, that’s for sure.”
On Saturday on the range at Augusta, Singh spent a lot of time glaring at Mickelson, who, for his part, refused to look in Vijay’s direction.
Mickelson would finish 10th that year before winning the second of his three green jackets in 2006, while Singh, who was displaced that week as number one in the world by Tiger Woods, ended the event in a tie for fifth.
Has the rivalry between the two softened with age?
Well, in 2020, when Singh caught some heat for taking a spot in a Korn Ferry Tour event, Mickelson sprung to his old foe’s defence, saying:
“It’s no secret VJ and I aren’t close, but I’d like to say on his behalf that in addition to being a member of the HoF, he’s a big part of the PGA Tour’s success which financially subsidizes, and always has, the KFT. He has earned the right to play when and where he wants.”
Following Mickelson’s controversial comments and links to the Saudi-backed golf league this year, Singh, like almost every pro golfer, has yet to offer any public support.
Opinion & Analysis
In the GolfWRX forums: An ace and an albatross in the same round have WRXers amazed
In our forums, GolfWRX members are reacting to a remarkable club-level accomplishment: a hole-in-one and an albatross in the same round.
Member @goaliedad30 said a young plus-2 player at his club made an ace on the par-3 fourth hole from 175 yards, then later holed out for albatross from 210 yards on the 11th hole, a roughly 500-yard uphill par 5 with an elevated green.
The OP said he had never heard of someone making both an ace and an albatross in the same round, and the thread quickly turned into the kind of amazed reaction you would expect.
- @dropkicked added a little forum humor by asking whether it was the OP’s son and whether the player was alone.
- @alittleoverpar said he hoped the player bought a lottery ticket.
- @57charlie was among the members reacting to the achievement and adding to the congratulations feel of the thread.
- @goaliedad30’s original post is the heart of the piece because the achievement itself needs very little dressing up.
A single ace is rare enough. Pairing one with an albatross in the same round is the kind of club story golfers will tell for years.
Entire thread: Quite an amazing feat at our club recently!
Opinion & Analysis
How has golf affected your life? — GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, one user asked a rather simple but nonetheless very provocative question. Namely, how golf has affected the lives of forum members. @Soloman1 shared a personal story about golf’s role in their life, asking for others to contribute their own stories.
They wrote:
“You never know when a chance encounter in golf will affect your life.
“I was an engineer by education. I hated it after 6 months. All that time studying and I hated it!
“I became an engineering manager, then was in sales, OEM sales, international sale, then factory management and eventually multiple factories under my domain for a large electrical company. I designed the electrical systems powering MARTA (Atlanta subway), WMARTA (Washington DC subway), Prudhoe Bay oil facility, Riyadh airport, etc.
“Then, I had to put 300 people (families) out of work at a factory in the midwest. I hated it. Most of the people had worked at the factory since I was in diapers. I quit. It didn’t have the killer instinct to put so many families into hell just so someone else could make a profit.
“I went to Pebble Beach to play some golf and maybe figure out what to do next. I was paired the first day with two guys from a land afar who spoke some English, were polite, loved golf, and I enjoyed playing with them. The were in the electrical business in Japan, so we had an instant connection. I played with them again, at their invitation, for two more days in Monterey.
“I had a message on my answering machine (remember them?) a few weeks later and it turned out that one of the guys I played with was the president of the largest electrical product company in the world (it starts with a P) and he said they were planning on building factories around the world to localize manufacturing. He said I might be just the guy they need to help them, and he offered me a bundle of cash to come to Japan and talk about it for a few weeks.
“I went, and I ended up staying for 27 years.
“You never know what golf can lead you to. You can meet some amazing people, some interesting people and a few jerks now and then. But, for the most part, a true golfer (one who fixes ball marks…) is usually a good person.
“I met the longest friend I’ve had in my life on the golf course.
“How about you? Have you met people on the golf course who affected your life? Here’s your place to talk about it.”
Our members in the forum entered the chat to share their thoughts on how golf affected their lives. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- WCanoe Paddler: “Very cool story. I can’t point to a singular instance the way you can, however, I can definitely say that it strengthened my relationship with my Dad when I was a teenager, helped me choose the college I would attend, and made countless friends. Probably the coolest of all, is that it is now coming full circle and I’m taking my young boys out with me to play and the conversations that take place outside walking beside a 5 and 9 year old for 3 hours is absolutely priceless.”
- Wlefthack: “It gives me a creative outlet that requires skill and ability. That used to be skateboarding, but injury recovery time and costs increase with age. I decided this was a better option long term. I’m good enough for it to be really fun and I have room for improvement. I never turned pro skating, maybe I can play the senior tour in 5 more years. ?”
- WNCLancer: “I truly enjoy golf and my favorite partner to spend a day with on the course is my wife of the past 25 years. We travel (not extravagantly) and we almost always have our clubs with us. We’ve never played any bucket-list courses or fancy resorts but we have fun no matter where we are! Golf has effected my life in a positive way by allowing my wife and I to spend quality time together.”
- WLobber: “I picked the game up late in life in my early 40s and wish I had done so sooner. The impact has been mostly positive – new friends, more time on the course with my oldest son, increased focus as I work on lowering my 8HCP, great times outdoors, improved physical fitness – since Covid I walk when I can and have lost and kept off 45 lbs. The only downside is that spending too much time on this site and others has caused me to make some unnecessary club purchases but by and large the electric shock collar that my wife places around my neck every time UPS/Fed X pulls up out front of my house has curbed my purchases. ”
Entire thread: “How Has Golf Affected Your life?”
If you aren’t already a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today.
Opinion & Analysis
More than just golf in the GolfWRX forums — The ’60s and ’70s song appreciation thread
In our forums, one user is encouraging their fellow members to contribute their favorite songs from the ’60s and ’70s to an ongoing music appreciation thread. This topic is one of many in the “The 19th Hole” forum, which is for all things “General non-golf & off-topic topics.” Recent highlights in this forum section include: “In-shore Salt Water Fishing,” “Bourbon,” and “World Cup 2026 ??.” Check out “The 19th Hole” here.
@Bob Cat got the 263-page thread going way back in 2019 when they wrote:
“Saturday morning. Cold. Rainy. WRX. Coffee. Jams. Let’s rock…
One of my all time favs from my favorite band:
Led Zeppelin, When The Levee Breaks. Love Bonhams rhythm and the harmonica on this one.
Peter Frampton’s touring for the last time this year due to a degenerative muscle disease. Saw him a few years back. Such an awesome guitarist and person.
Grab A Chicken (Put It Back). Just a fun, rock’n song.
What are some of your favorites?”
Recently, @touch shared “Baby Blue (Rollin’ On The River)” by Badfinger, while @FollowTheSun shared shared the 2001 Remastered version of The Beach Boys’ “California Girls” and @kevina001 offered up Oak’s “Set The Night On Fire.” These are just a few examples from a thread that features enough music to last for quite a while.
Entire Thread: “The 60’s and 70’s song appreciation thread (obscurity welcome)”
If you aren’t already a member, join the GolfWRX forums today
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Pingback: Biographer claims this is the shock real reason why Mickelson and caddie Bones split – GolfWRX
Gunter Eisenberg
Apr 7, 2022 at 9:18 pm
This would have been extremely relevant….17 years ago. Instashank.
Chris
Apr 7, 2022 at 1:58 pm
Cancel culture sucks.
Chuck
Apr 6, 2022 at 8:05 pm
Recall the anonymous poll of Tour players a few years ago, in which one of the questions was, “If you were in a bar fight, which Tour player would you want on your side?”
The reportedly unanimous answer was Ernie Els.
Which is additionally funny, because among the so-called Big Four of the early 2000’s, Ernie Els has practically zero “friction” with the others. (Well, maybe not Mickelson who found friction with everyone, but not on Els’ part.)
I think this was a mostly-accurate recounting of Spikegate, but with two omissions.
One was the egregiousness of what Mickelson was doing back then. The greens were quite wet, and the surfaces of that era were really susceptible to spike marks, which by rule could not be touched. And Mickelson in those days where he looked at the cup from four sides, standing about four feet away from the hole. It was sort of outrageous.
The second omission was the rumored role of Fred Couples, who apparently got in Mickelson’s face during the locker room confrontation and said something to the effect of, “You just got here, and you’re already being an a—hole.”
Professor
Apr 6, 2022 at 11:09 am
Phil doesn’t want any part of Vijay! It’d be hard to even call it a fight. Phil would have absolutely no chance. No chance.
Phil Fan
Apr 30, 2022 at 12:42 pm
I think you would be surprised. Phil would be a tough out. He’s tenacious.
Gary Ahlert
Apr 6, 2022 at 10:38 am
The way the PGA has treated Mickelson has been nothing less than a disgrace. The hypocrisy and dishonesty of the PGA tour is stunning. Their relations with China are now under investigation and rightly so. Phil’s language regarding the Saudi’s many have been rough, but the nonetheless correct. I have made it a point to watch less and less of PGA events. How dare the Master’s dis-invite Phil from playing. Who are these pompous phonies kidding?
Phil should be screaming from the rooftops over the injustice of what has happened to him and filing an massive lawsuit against the PGA for restraint of trade as well as slander and libel.
Jim K
Apr 7, 2022 at 2:19 pm
First of all, Mickelson wasn’t disinvited to the Masters. It was his decision not to play. As far as the Saudi thing, it wasn’t that he didn’t correctly describe them as murderers, it was that he’s perfectly willing to jump in bed with them as long as it puts more money in his pocket.
Hulieo Aeglesis
Apr 11, 2022 at 9:16 pm
The bottom line with Philgate in 2022 is that IT’S a FACT the the PGA Tour management are a bunch of tyranny lovin’ leftist control freaks and very much like corporate America as a whole. IMHO, the PGA shouldn’t have ANY control over ANY player’s media rights, PERIOD. The PGA doesn’t OWN golf, just like NASCAR doesn’t OWN stock car racing, hence TWO monopolies creating disfavor for themselves…
Hosay Louis Hola Thimble
Apr 27, 2022 at 10:22 pm
Cancel everyone with the FACTS
GaryA
Apr 6, 2022 at 10:36 am
The way the PGA has treated Mickelson has been nothing less than a disgrace. The hypocrisy and dishonesty of the PGA tour is stunning. Their relations with China are now under investigation and rightly so. Phil’s language regarding the Saudi’s many have been rough, but the nonetheless correct. I have made it a point to watch less and less of PGA events. How dare the Master’s dis-invite Phil from playing. Who are these pompous phonies kidding?
Phil should be screaming from the rooftops over the injustice of what has happened to him and filing an massive lawsuit against the PGA for restraint of trade as well as slander and libel.
El Hijo de Phil
Apr 6, 2022 at 10:33 am
I guess Phil loves to call people M’Fers, lol….
Amy
Apr 6, 2022 at 9:59 am
FREE PHIL
Lift the BAN USGA who host a Saudi tournament
PHIL >>>
grammarian
Apr 6, 2022 at 8:56 am
correction: ruffle some feathers
Mo
Apr 6, 2022 at 8:04 am
I 100% got my money on former bouncer Vijay if it had ever come down to it.
BJ
Apr 6, 2022 at 9:16 pm
Yup…