LIV Golf returns to Miami, specifically to Trump National Doral, for the fourth consecutive year. This Friday, the 54-hole circuit event kicks off, with Sergio García’s Fireballs GC team seeking their fourth consecutive victory in this category. After the Singapore tournament, which Joaquín Niemann won individually, the Chilean climbed to number one in this ranking, with Jon Rahm second and García third.
At the table for the first press conference of the day in Doral were three Martens winners: Phil Mickelson, Sergio, and Jon. Inevitably, the conversation turned to the event starting next week at Augusta National, and it must be said that it got very interesting.
García was reminded that he will be playing in his 100th major. The Castellón native began by joking: “Not as many as Phil, but it’s a lot.” The Spaniard added: “This shows, just like Phil, the quality and consistency we’ve had throughout our careers. Not many have surpassed the 100-major mark, so it’s an honor and something I’m very proud of. I’m really looking forward to going. I’ll really enjoy the week no matter what. Obviously, I’m going to give it my all.”
Mickelson went even further: “History is made there [at Augusta] every year. To be part of past history, having won three times, knowing that every time we come back we’re part of it and being able to witness everything that happens that week and the treatment that past champions receive, which is better than any other tournament in the world, is something special. It’s almost a religious experience every time you step foot on Augusta National.”
The “Lion of Barrika” was asked about his game just before the big event: “I think, especially these last few weeks, I’ve been playing very good golf and I feel very comfortable. Obviously, Augusta is a completely different level, as is the Blue Monster, but that’s why I like this week. It’s excellent preparation for a major that’s right around the corner. I hope this week shows some of those improvements and I go into the next one with a clear mind.”
These days, the majors are the only meeting place for all of golf’s stars, but that doesn’t mean they’re more important than before. The three “leaders” of the LIV were blunt: “It’s hard to see the majors becoming even more important. “They’re the pinnacle of our sport and, as Phil said, they define a career,” Rahm concluded.’Lefty’, in his element, even told several anecdotes about his time at the first major of the season. What will the course be like next week? Well, Phil is absolutely clear about it. On one occasion, he went to practice two weeks before the tournament and something unexpected happened: “I was on the 11th tee preparing my tee shot and saw a tree on the left fall right in the middle of the fairway. It was a huge pine and it destroyed the fairway. They started calling people on walkie-talkies to come with chainsaws, and when I got to the green, the tree was already limbless; when I got to the 15th tee, the tree was already cut down and on a truck. When I finished my round, I looked out and they were already replacing the turf. It’s one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen. I’m sure the course will be perfect.”
Of the three attendees at the press conference, Mickelson certainly has a wealth of anecdotes, and his favorite moment is the Masters Champions Dinner. “During dessert, the guys stand up and tell stories,” commented the six-time major winner, who continued: “I remember Palmer. I wish they had recorded them telling some stories, because it’s much better to hear it from themselves. Palmer told me this one day while we were playing, although I don’t know if he shared this story at dinner or not. The fact is, he really admired Ben Hogan. He was very important to him,” the Californian began.
The story continues: “He had the opportunity to play a practice round with him just before the 1956 Masters. He had just won a tournament on Sunday and drove all night. He drove about eight hours to get to Augusta to play a practice round with Ben Hogan, Dow Finsterwald, and I don’t remember who the fourth one was. They went out to play, and Arnold was tired, hadn’t slept, had just won, and was emotionally drained. He played very poorly. After the round, while they were having lunch, he got up from the table to wash his hands or something, and he heard Hogan say, ‘How did that kid get into this tournament?’ That really bothered him, and he said, ‘He’s never called me Arnie, he’s never called me Palmer, he’s always called me ‘boy.’ And I never liked that. He said it motivated him a lot. He was determined to prove it to Hogan, and he won that year.” Phil, who is already golf history, is becoming a good encyclopedia.
