Mickelson begins tour life with his brother as caddie
Phil Mickelson heads into the next phase of his career with a new caddie on a course marking its comeback from devastating floods inWest Virginia.
Mickelson will have brother Tim Mickelson on his bag starting today at the Greenbrier Classic in his first tournament since parting ways with his caddie of 25 years, Jim “Bones” Mackay.
Tim Mickelson, who is the agent for young star Jon Rahm, will be his older brother’s caddie for the rest of the year. Phil Mickelson said Wednesday the new arrangement brings a comfort level that could help his game.
The tournament was canceled last year after torrential downpours triggered flooding that killed 23 people statewide and caused extensive damage to The Greenbrier resort and the Old White TPC in White Sulphur Springs. a former U.S. PGA champion, tweeted that the Northern Irishman was “bored” of playing golf because he had plenty of money in the bank.
Four-time major winner McIlroy sent a tweet in response to Elkington, before posting a screenshot of his Wikipedia entry which lists some of his achievements in the game.
“I sort of regret sending it at the end,” McIlroy said Wednesday, “but I actually gave my wife, Erica, my phone andmy Twitter and told her,C`hange my password to something else and don’t tellmewhat it is.’
“So as of the time being, I’m off social media just because of that reason. I don’t need to read it. It’s stuff that shouldn’t get to you and sometimes it does.”
Speaking ahead of the Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club, an event which benefits his own foundation, McIlroy said he would have ignored the criticism if it had come froma member of the public or media.
“But a former player that has won a major and been successful, that’s sort of why it got to me,” McIlroy said, “and that’s why I sort of retaliated a little bit.”
McIlroy hasn’twon— or seriously contended at — a major since capturing the 2014 U.S. PGA Championship. The British Open takes place at Royal Birkdale from July 20-23, and he played there last week. McIlroy is fit again after an injury-hit 2017 so far.
“I’m close,” said McIlroy, ranked No. 4. “I’ve got two big opportunities coming up this summer. Birkdale is a golf course I feel I can do well at. And then Quail Hollow for the PGA, I’ve won there two times, my first win on the PGA Tour and last time I won by seven.
“I think they are two opportunities for me to get back on the major ladder.”
McIlroy won the Irish Open last year.