Phil Mickelson Had Us Hooked With This Wild Story About Rule-Breaking at Augusta National

Fans might know Phil Mickelson as a flop-shot artist and recovering sports gambler, but the six-time major champion is also known as one of the game’s best storytellers. And Mickelson has a lot of stories, gathered from more than 30 years as a pro.

Mickelson shared a good one on Thursday night when he took to social media. Adding to the intrigue was the story’s setting: Augusta National. 

The three-time Masters champion set the stage by taking us back to 2004, when he captured his first green jacket and first major. 

A few months prior to the 2004 Masters, Mickelson had apparently begun working with swing coach David Pelz, who urged Mickelson to implement a new drill—which Mickelson refers to as the “towel drill”—into his practice routine. Mickelson would lay towels out at various yardages, stretching out to 175 yards, to provide “reference points” and help him dial in his distances. 

Mickelson won the first tournament he entered after he began using the towel drill. Naturally, Mickelson wanted to lay out his towels four months later, to get his game in proper shape for the Masters. 

That’s where the story gets interesting: In 2004, Mickelson practiced his drill on Augusta’s old East driving range with no issues whatsoever—and he went on to win the tournament. The next year, however, Mickelson encountered a problem. When he arrived at Augusta National in 2005, a sign had been placed on the East range that read: “East practice range is for short game only.” 

The remainder of the the tale must be heard in Mickelson’s own words: 

We’re not quite sure which detail of Mickelson’s tale is most entertaining. The thought of the Hall of Famer army-crawling under the trees that line Magnolia lane to steal an official Augusta National sign is priceless (and alarming, considering the club’s strict rules). 

It’s surprising that Mickelson didn’t get caught, and it’s shocking that he decided to share this story on his own. 

Mickelson’s clever one-liner toward the end of the video, which references recent allegations made by his long-time betting parter Billy Walters, is perhaps the most amusing part of the clip. 

“Now, a lot of you might bet that it’s not a true story. I’m not a betting man, so I wouldn’t take it,” Mickelson said. Moments later, he moves in the frame holding all the proof fans needed to confirm that the tale is indeed true. 

Either way, we’re glad Mickelson decided to take a risk and share the old story, which will undoubtedly go down as one of his best.