Lefty leaves lasting impression

If you could choose one golfer in the world to enjoy a practice round with, then Phil Mickelson would figure high up on many people’s list.

PGA.info columnist, PGA pro and Challenge Tour regular Matt Ford had the pleasure at the Scottish Open and Lefty revealed himself to be a true gent as well as a supreme exponent of the short game.

You know what it’s like, one minute you’re about to tee off a routine practice round on your own – and then you end up playing with five-time major winner Phil Mickelson!

That’s what happened to me at this year’s Scottish Open – a tournament I qualified for via the PGA Play-Offs.

I was on the first tee waiting for my caddy when Mickelson turned up. I wasn’t sure, given he was the defending champion and also the reigning Open champion, what the etiquette was, so I gestured for him to carry on and indicated we would follow them.

But Phil was having none of that and asked to join up, so I couldn't disappoint him! So there I was on the first tee with Phil Mickelson. You hear that he’s a good guy and he comes across that way in the media. But he is a true gentlemen and a really nice guy. We talked about all kinds of stuff including our families and he was interested in knowing more about Scotland (not that I could help much with that!). 

Even though it was only Monday, we soon had a few spectators and photographers watching us, which I’m sure was normal for Phil.

The main thing that you can’t tell from watching Phil on TV is just how tall and powerful he is. I stood next to him and felt like I was an Oompa Lumpa.

It was great to watch him and to see his short game, especially his chipping and flop shots. Phil is known for his lob shots, in particularly lobbing the ball backwards over his head. We were on the sixth green and Phil had a go at this shot off a mound next to the green.

It was great to see and I admitted to him I had practised that, copying him when I was younger. He was telling stories of holing these shots for TV shows and was talking me through how he does it. He was actually lining it up like a 20 ft putt!

I had to have ago after watching and listening to him and I actually hit it closer! He must have needed some cash as he challenged me to a nearest the pin. He won comfortably as I nearly took out a spectator! Unfortunately I never had the chance to give him that pound later in the week – not sure he needs it!

It seemed that the practice round was nearly as memorable for him as for me as he mentioned it in an interview with ESPN ahead of the tournament, even mentioning playing with me!

Playing with Phil was obviously one of the highlights of the week and helped keep my focus on enjoying the week.  I made the cut for the second week in a row.

I shot a 67 (four-under) in the second round which was one the best of the day and a great confidence booster for me. This included holing a 4 iron (Ok it is hybrid!) on my back nine to really get the momentum going. I played well Saturday too, but didn’t make enough putts. On Sunday I tried to do the same, but even though pushing for a big pay day cheque was not at the forefront of my mind, the natural thoughts were there and I was not as relaxed.

I tried a bit too hard and got frustrated and that told as I closed with a 75. 

Also at the weekend I unfortunately had my wrist play up from the new shafts in my irons, which were going well.

The thick rough, firm ground and shafts had caused it. I had been ignoring it under the adrenaline of the tournament but paid for it the next week as I could barely turn a door handle. Changing back to my old shafts, some rest and treatment has seemed to sort the issue. 

 The week before Scotland I played in the French Open, which I got in for the second year running through qualifying.

Given the form I had going into the event with a run of missed cuts anything was a bonus. I would have taken making the cut and anything from there. As it was I finished 48^th which secured me my highest pay day on the European Tour, which was very welcome.

In the third round I was paired with Victor Dubuisson – France’s No 1 player and almost likely to be a Ryder Cup player this year.

It is always an experience playing with guys in the top 20 or so in the world, but on their home soil there was a lot of interest, with a couple of hundred watching every shot we made.

I was expecting that and all the distractions that come with it and was ready to focus on my game. Ironically, he did not play that well and was having a bad day, so conversation was limited! Again it was a great day for my confidence as I played well in that arena and kept my focus and had a good round.

My final round was in terrible conditions and again I struggled to settle down, especially with the putter.

However, it was good to pick up a cheque and have some money going in the bank. The only disappointment is I know it could have been so much more.

Not making the Open gave me a week off, which after a busy spell was needed, especially for the wrist.

I saw a little bit of the Open but spent most of the week with the family and doing house jobs! The two and 4 year olds control the TV controls in our house, so it’s mainly Peppa Pig.  But I do love watching the Open and it was interesting to see how the guys I played with the previous week fared. Rory played fantastic and his driving is something I can only dream of!

Overall my performances have given me confidence in my game and shown me what I need to do. I hope to take this into the Challenge Tour events. I am playing in Norway this week and will focus on the Challenge Tour for the remainder of the season.

Follow Matt on twitter @mattfordpga and see his website for more career details.