Phil is no flop for Olivia and the Sun Devils
OLIVIA Mehaffey is living the dream at the Arizona State University.
Recently, the Irish international and Curtis Cup star got to meet Phil Mickelson when the five-time major winner returned to his alma mater to unveil the Sun Devils’ new, state-of-the-art practice facility at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix.
The Thunderbirds organisation made a generous commitment to the new facility which has been named “The Thunderbirds Golf Complex”, though it has already been dubbed “The Bird”.
A 7,000-square foot facility features a team gym and locker rooms for both the men’s and women’s teams, a fueling station, a study lounge, a team lounge, indoor hitting bays and a four-acre short game area designed by Mickelson himself.
It consists of five practice greens, four practice bunkers, a three-acre fairway and features rough designed to practice every possible golf shot, just don’t tell Jim Furyk.
The six-acre range has 21 target greens, seven fairway bunkers and synthetic turf “Phil Mickelson” practice putting pads, consisting of three 15-foot by 15-foot square putting surfaces at 2%, 3% and 4% slope each.
There’s also a 10,000 square foot practice putting green and eight “Phil Mickelson” wedge control targets, consisting of synthetic turf targets providing distance control practice for every yardage from 30 yards to 145 yards
Mickelson turned up wearing flip-flops and still gave an exhibition of his short game skills with the Phil flop part of the repertoire.