Phil Mickleson's softer side

GM. This is Easy Pars, the twice-a-week golf newsletter that respects caddies no matter how the shot ends up.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what happened the last couple of days:

• The softer side of Phil

• The ratings are in from Tucson

• A harsh pro goes off on his caddie

Phil has a lot to say

Phil Mickelson says a lot…and a lot has been said about Phil Mickelson.

• He’s been called a nutbag (just covered this in the last issue).

• He’s called the PGA Tour obnoxiously greedy.

• And as the unofficial spokesman of LIV Golf, everything he says gets a lot of attention.

For the most part, his comments have stirred the flames of the on going conflict between the PGA Tour and LIV.

Refreshingly, it seems like the tone of his comments have shifted into more positive territory.

Is it time for a softer Phil?

“I think that it’s really a good thing. I’m happy to see it. I’m happy to see it for the Tour,” when asked about his thoughts of the PGA Tour’s changes for next season.

When asked about the future of the sport, he also said:

If you ask me, it seems like LIV is trying to put into words how they see themselves in the golf world.

Or rather, how they want to be seen by everyone. 

Instead of being the new league that has come to take over, they now want to be viewed as additive.

It’s definitely a less threatening way to approach their relationship with the PGA Tour.

And an approach that clearly indicates that they want to find a way in which both league’s players can coexist.

Speaking of LIV…the Tuscan ratings are in

And they aren’t good.

Allegedly, this is still double their highest YouTube audience from last year. But it’s still abysmal, if the numbers are to be believed.

What do you think?

CW execs wondering where all the golf fans are:

The thing is, LIV is still giving away a ton of $$$. Take a look at these stats for this year, so far:

Tour pro vs caddy. Who won?

Yes, there was a fight at a tournament this past weekend. Again, it wasn’t from the league that promises “Golf but louder.”

It was at the PGA’s Valspar tournament. And it was between a pro and his caddie.

Caddies are a key part of a pro golf player’s success.

They do a lot for the player.

They’re on the pitch—day in and day out—working on every aspect of a player’s game so when the its time to bring it, it is brought.

Caddies are blue-collar workers in a white-collar world.

In return, caddies get a very reasonable paycheck. Typically, on top of a base salary, they earn a commission from the player’s earnings that range from 5% to 10%.

John Rahm, for example, has made over $9 million this year so far. Alligators aren’t good at math, but I’m sure his caddie is interested in supporting him as much as possible.

In other words, if the pro is upset, typically the caddy is upset—because it messes with everyone’s pocketbook.

And that’s why its always painful to see situations when a player and caddie get into a heated argument.

This week Matt Wallace and Samuel Bernard got heated at the Valspar championship. Wallace wasn’t having a great day, but at the 18th hole things got tense.

He and Bernard got into it.

There wasn’t any microphone, but you don’t have to be an expert lip reader to figure out how the argument went.

Here’s a tweet, from @TheGolfDivoTee:

Anywho, it seems like they’ve made amends with each other and will continue working together.

Things get hot on the course. And we all know it could’ve been a lot worse.

Meme of the Day

😂😂 Who else can relate?

That’s it for today, golf fans. We’ll be back on Thursday to cover the Pro golf weekend ahead.

Later gator,

E.