Getting to play an extra day is splendid for any golfer at any given golf course but when it comes to playing at the Pebble-Beach, it gives a different level of happiness, even for the professionals.
But, if you would have seen Phil Mickelson’s reasoning, you can simply tell he is not happy about it. The man was leading with three-strokes and wanted it to get done yesterday itself.
Even after PGA Tour rules official Mark Russell explained to Mickelson that they would be returning on Monday to finish, and Paul Casey could be seen marking his ball on the 16th green, Mickelson was on a mission. He stormed to the 17th tee, still hoping he could at least hit one more tee shot, make a par and try to persuade everyone to finish the 18th in the darkness. He was not successful in this endeavor, and when the horn sounded, Mickelson’s reaction was captured on the 17th tee, and it was an eye roll for the ages.
“I get exactly where Paul’s coming from,” Mickelson said. “It’s dark and we’re going to have a good chance tomorrow to come out on fresh greens and have them mown. They got pretty rough this afternoon so I totally get it. But I have pretty good vision, I can see fine, and I’m playing well, so I wanted to continue and that’s all there is to it. But I totally get where he’s coming from. And in all honesty it’s probably a good thing because now we’ll play the last couple holes in pure conditions and it will be helpful for us both.”
“Let’s play 17 and see how it goes” is a conversation every golfer who has had the last tee time off 1 has had in their lives. “I swear, if the sun just magically comes back out for like 5 minutes and we sprint from shot to shot we can finish this round.” Air tight logic.
While they both are supposed to tee-off at 6.30 PM today, do not miss this two hole play for Mickelson, while Casey is still left to putt his ball on the 15th and join his competitor for two final holes.
Interesting to note is Paul Casy last won in February 2018 at the Valspar Championship, his second PGA TOUR title, which took close to 10 years for him to reach.
Thirteen of Mickelson’s 43 PGA Tour victories have come in his home state of California. With a victory, he would match Mark O’Meara’s record of five victories in the event, which dates back to 1937 when it was won by Sam Snead.
Who is your pick for the win?