19th Hole
‘I don’t trust Shipnuck’ – Former PGA champ hits out at author of new Mickelson biography
He may not be teeing it up at Southern Hills this week to defend his title, but Phil Mickelson is still creating plenty of buzz ahead of the second major of the year.
This week, the 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem has revealed that he wants nothing to do with Alan Shipnuck, author of the just-released unauthorised biography of Phil Mickelson.
In an interview with BoyleSports Golf Betting and GolfMagic, the now Sky Sports analyst revealed he had “enough of the sensationalism” of how the writer approached his work on the 2021 book, ‘Bud, Sweat & Tees’, a publication featuring ‘Rich Beem’s Walk on the Wild Side of the PGA Tour’.
In the book, Shipnuck covered Beem’s rookie year alongside caddie Steve Duplantis, but the 51-year-old says that, “Even though he wrote that book, just so you know, you and I got paid the same amount for that book. After he wrote the book, we remained fairly friendly and then it got to the point where I’d had enough of the sensationalism of how he wrote it.”
Explaining why he is “not a fan,” of the author, Beem said, “I don’t trust him and if I don’t trust you, then I don’t really want to have anything to do with you. I think the one thing I base my friendships on and on who I want to talk to is ‘do I trust them?’ I don’t trust Alan. It’s nothing personal, I just don’t trust what he writes.”
“I think that he tries to sensationalist everything, but that’s just my personal opinion. Some folks love what he has to say, so it’s all good.”
In previously released excerpts from Shipnuck’s latest publication, ‘Phil. The Rip-roaring (unauthorized) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar’, the 2021 PGA winner created huge controversy as he revealed his thoughts on Saudi Arabia, the planned golf league and the effect on the PGA Tour. Since then, Mickelson has been in exile, entering this week’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills, before pulling out just a few days ago.
In the interview, Beem expressed his surprise that Mickelson took so long to withdraw from the second major of the year and hopes that he doesn’t commit to the first LIV event at the Centurion Club in two weeks’ time.
“I was surprised he (Mickelson) was even on the list. I was surprised it got as close as it did. If you look at everything surrounding Phil, and especially with that book coming out, I think that’s a pretty damning book and I think that anybody wouldn’t want to be around.” Beem said.
“It’s not going to disappear – I was surprised to see him commit to it (the US PGA). When he stepped away from the game for personal reasons, you need to make sure that you get everything sorted out on your planet before you come back to play golf.”
Beem showed some sympathy for Mickelson’ current plight: “This isn’t a place to come and get away from it all, especially if you’re Phil Mickelson, because the media is just going to roast him and ask him some pretty hard questions and he’s going to have to produce some pretty tough answers.”
“I don’t know when he’ll be back and I’ll be honest, I really hope it’s not over at Centurion for the first LIV Golf Series event. If it is, then that’s the path that he chooses.”
He added, “The PGA Tour has been really good to him over the years. If he decides to go down the LIV Series route then that’s what he chooses. But I don’t think coming back to a major championship and having to face the press about everything that’s gone on would’ve been a great move in the first place.
“If even a fraction of stuff that I’ve heard from players in the locker rooms and driving ranges etc…, if even a fraction of it is true, especially the gambling stuff, you’ve got to shake your head and say, ‘that’s absurd’.”
“If he is truly going there (Centurion), let’s face it it’s for the money. There’s no reason why anyone who has accomplished what he has in the game should have to go there, unless he either needs or wants the money.”
“I don’t get it, but if that’s where he’s going to go and hang his hat, then I wish him the best of luck and we probably won’t see him play for a while. Who knows when we’ll see him play next, whether it be a US Open or an Open Championship.”
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This week, Greg Norman appeared on the Bloomberg Latitude Series and once again lashed out at LIV Golf critics.
“I compliment the boys who came over, the first movers, They came on with massive amounts of headwind,” Norman said while speaking with the host, Haslinda Amin.
“The vitriol and hatred was just disgusting, to be quite honest with you, considering what these guys have done for the game of golf, how they have carried the game of golf, and the institutions they represented.
“It was disgusting.”
The PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian Private Investment Fund are still working on a deal, but there is no imminent end in sight. LIV officials, including Norman, have maintained that LIV will continue to exist as its own entity regardless of what happens with the negotiations.
“We’re in our infancy for growth. Take venues, for example. We started out a couple of years ago doing nine and five – nine in the US and nine international – and now that’s flipped.”
“The global scene has opened its arms to us in a significant way.”
“Ultimately, we’ll end up taking the game on a global basis.”
LIV’s next event will be in Spain at Real Club Valderrama July 12-14.
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- Bryson explains last minute driver head switch and says he “probably shouldn’t have changed;” despite U.S. Open win
- The stunning numbers behind the rise in Bryson’s popularity following U.S. Open win
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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19th Hole
6-time DP World Tour champ vows to cut down on partying in bid to make next Ryder Cup team
Marcel Siem is one of the most entertaining players in Europe and he just won for the 6th time on the DP World Tour, defeating Tom McKibbin in a playoff to win the Italian Open.
After the win, the 43-year-old went on the Sky Sports Golf podcast and shared his goals for the future.
“The big plan is to perform better in the big events now, which I have not achieved ever in my life,” said the German.
“The Rolex events, the majors, the big ones – that is the only way to get into the top 50 in the world, get into the Ryder Cup and qualify for The Masters.”
“That is my big goal going to the Scottish Open and The Open. I will not throw this away with partying anymore.
“I have three or four weeks off after The Open and this will be party time, trust me – massively, but these three weeks I’ll be working hard.”
Siem has a long way to go to make Luke Donlad’s 2025 Ryder Cup team, but if he does, the Ryder Cup fist pumps Siem would inevitably provide would be legendary.
THAT. IS. CLUTCH! ?@SiemMarcel saves his first birdie of the back nine for the last to force a play-off against @tommckibbin8!#ItalianOpen pic.twitter.com/OW8xA8aGPg
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 30, 2024
More from the 19th Hole
- Bryson explains last minute driver head switch and says he “probably shouldn’t have changed;” despite U.S. Open win
- The stunning numbers behind the rise in Bryson’s popularity following U.S. Open win
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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19th Hole
‘You’re right, we’re always wrong!’ – Sergio Garcia receives warning during Open qualifier
On Tuesday morning, Sergio Garcia began his attempt to qualify for this month’s Open Championship at Royal Troon. The 44-year-old has had a strong season on LIV and finished T12 at the U.S. Open.
Ben Parsons of Bunkered is in attendance for Garcia’s qualification efforts at Lancashire Links and caught an interesting exchange between Sergio and a rules official on camera.
Sergio Garcia’s group given an official warning for slow play on the 8th. Garcia complaining that he’s having to wait 3-4 minutes for fans to move on every tee shot. @WestLancsGC pic.twitter.com/3SDUbtVQ9d
— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 2, 2024
Sergio Garcia furious at his slow play warning at Final Open Qualifying – saying fans are causing the delays. Here he is taking his anger out at two R&A officials.
“You’re right, we’re always wrong.” pic.twitter.com/hO2mzYgSRa
— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 2, 2024
The Spaniard received a slow play warning and wasn’t happy about it.
“You’re right, we’re always wrong,” Garcia can be heard saying.
For context, Garcia not happy that he’s been put on the clock when it’s taking marshals “3-4 minutes” to move fans walking on his line on tee shots. https://t.co/doiWXY2UO6
— Ben Parsons (@_benparsons) July 2, 2024
Parsons added that Garcia was upset with the slow play warning because it was taking marshals a long time to clear the fans watching his group, which of no fault of his own.
At the moment, Garcia is on the back nine of his first 18 holes and three back of first place.
pulling hard for @TheSergioGarcia and the rest of the LIV GOLF family as they attempt to bypass the archaic OWGR and QUALIFY for The Open today! ???
COVERAGE HERE ALL DAY???
— 54 Golf (@_54Golf) July 2, 2024
The Fireballs GC Captain will tee it up next week at LIV Valderrama in his home country.
More from the 19th Hole
- Bryson explains last minute driver head switch and says he “probably shouldn’t have changed;” despite U.S. Open win
- The stunning numbers behind the rise in Bryson’s popularity following U.S. Open win
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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