Mickelson thinks Mackay will caddie again soon

The partners split after 25 years and over 600 events

olympia fields, ill.» Phil Mickelson isn’t sure what’s next for Jim “Bones” Mackay. He is sure there are going to be options for his longtime caddie.

Mickelson and Mackay announced last week they decided to split after 25 years and more than 600 tournaments around the world, ending one of golf’s most successful relationships.

Mickelson’s brother Tim is going to caddie for him for the rest of the year, and Lefty thinks there will be no shortage of potential suitors for Mackay.

“He’s going to have some incredible opportunities,” Mickelson said Monday in his first public comments since the split. “There’s going to be a great player — a lot of great players, but one great player’s going to be lucky enough to have him and he’s going to bring a lot to his game and they’re going to be a great team. And then it gives me an opportunity to spend time with my brother for the rest of this year, which I’m looking forward to.”

Tim Mickelson was the golf coach at Arizona State before he left the position to become Jon Rahm’s agent, and Phil Mickelson thanked Rahm for approving his brother’s new schedule. Tim Mickelson also carried his big brother’s bag during the Mexico Championship when Mackay went down with a stomach virus.

Asked if Mackay will start working for Rahm, Phil Mickelson said he had no idea and didn’t want to speculate on Mackay’s next job.

“He’s not told me anything, and I think that he’s going to have players call him and inquire about his services,” Mickelson said. “That would be what I would anticipate. But I don’t know.”

Mickelson, who celebrated his 47th birthday on June 16, and Mackay started working together at a U.S. Open qualifier in Memphis, Tenn., in 1992. Mickelson was hoping to have their final round together at this year’s U.S. Open, but he skipped the tournament to attend his oldest daughter’s high school graduation.

Mackay went to Erin Hills in Wisconsin to scout the course in case a weather delay would have allowed Mickelson to make his tee time, but it didn’t work out. Instead, their last round was in the St. Jude Classic — in Memphis.

“We knew that final round in Memphis that that was our last round together — or most likely,” Mickelson said. “We were holding out hope that it wasn’t, that we had one more week, and it was an emotional day. But we both know it’s time.”