Phil Mickelson secured three Masters victories between 2004 and 2010, and his caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay has shed light on a parking lot incident following his first winThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Phil Mickelson’s caddie spotted him treating Masters locker room staff well(Image: Harry How, Getty Images)
Phil Mickelson will be deeply missed in the Masters locker room this year, considering how well he got in with the staff. There is no better illustration of this than when former caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay revealed that the LIV Golf star shared a touching moment with the Augusta National locker room staff following his first Masters victory in 2004.
Mickelson claimed the first of his three Masters titles 22 years ago, at last securing his coveted Green Jacket in his 12th attempt at the season’s opening major championship. In doing so, the 55-year-old gained all the benefits that come with being a Masters champion.
Among those perks was receiving a permanent spot in the champions’ locker room for all future Masters appearances, placing him alongside some of golf’s greatest ever players.
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All three of his victories came with Mackay carrying the bag, as the caddie worked with the former PGA Tour professional throughout the peak of his career. Mickelson was often considered a crowd favourite and Mackay recalled a touching moment that took place away from spectators’ eyes.
“There we are, he’s won the Masters, it’s 6.30pm on a Sunday evening and I don’t see this guy for like three or four hours,” Mackay previously told No Laying Up. “So I’m sitting in this parking lot or near it outside the Augusta National clubhouse and it must have been 10 o’clock.
“I look out to his car and I see some figures. It’s pitch dark out there and it’s Phil and these two or three other people around him. So I walk up there to kind of help with packing the bag, and as I walk up to him, I see these guys are hugging Phil.
“They’re not just hugging him, it’s like an emotional hug… I’m like, ‘Man, who are these guys hugging Phil?’ It turns out these are the guys that work in the lower locker room at Augusta National (that) Phil’s been tipping all these years and taking such good care of.
“Now that Phil’s won the Masters, he’s going to the champions’ locker room and these guys are losing him forever, and they’re just devastated. So they’re hugging it out in the parking lot and I thought, ‘That’s really cool.'”
Phil Mickelson won the Masters in 2004(Image: Getty Images)
However, Mickelson will not return to Augusta this week and compete for a fourth title. He confirmed last week that he has pulled out of the major, citing family reasons.
Mickelson wrote on X: “Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter.
“I have great respect for Augusta National Golf Club, and it is definitely the most special week of the year. I wish everyone the best of luck, and I will be watching.”