Phil Mickelson Scolds Ryan Ruffels For Talking About Money Match

Golfer Phil Mickelson is playing with a retooled swing under the guidance of instructor Andrew Getson, and seems to be on the right track after gaining a tie for third at the CareerBuilder Challenge in Palm Spring just last week. The Hall of Famer will also be participating in his hometown’s tournament, the Farmers Insurance Open, for the 27th time beginning Thursday.

Phil Mickelson Scolds Ryan Ruffels For Talking About Money

Mickelson, 45, appeared to be in an edgy mood after taking aim at both the state of California and hotshot Australian teenager Ryan Ruffels, 17, who is playing on a sponsor’s exemption.

“I don’t understand the politics of it at all,” Mickelson said regarding the impending redesign of Torrey Pines North, which he had hoped to direct but which instead will be overseen by Tom Weiskopf. “It makes no sense. I think it’s terrible business practices, but it’s what we live with here.”

Mickelson also stated that the Torrey Pines North is the “greatest site in the world,” and that he hopes work will be done to make it more playable for golfers. He had previously complained about onerous California state income taxes in 2013. However, Mickelson did not appear to get particularly angry when asked about Ruffels, who took a large but disputed sum of cash off Mickelson in a match just before Christmas.

“He’s a very nice person,” Mickelson stated before several TV cameras. “I met him a month ago, and we played for the first time. He’s young, and he’s got some things to learn. One of them is you don’t discuss certain things.

“You don’t discuss specifics of what you play for,” he added, “and you certainly don’t embellish and create a false amount for your own benefit. So those things right there are — that’s high school stuff, and he’s going to have to stop doing that now that he’s out on the PGA Tour.”

According to the print story, Tim Mickelson, Phil’s younger brother and Arizona State’s men’s golf coach, was also involved. The stakes of the apparent wager: If the five-time major winner Mickelson won, he would get $2,500, which Ruffels would pay him once he went professional. If Ruffels won, Mickelson would pay him $5,000.

The Mickelsons claim the $5,000 figure is way off, and deny the occurrence of a quote by Mickelson that had begun circulating: “I don’t wake up this early to play for any less than $2,500.”

Mickelson and Ruffels will not face each other at the Farmers. Ruffels goes off the 10th tee on the North Course with Rhein Gibson and Henrik Norlander at 12:50 pm. EST. Mickelson, Justin Rose and Jimmy Walker will start on the first hole of the South Course at 1:40 pm.

 

PHOTO: LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 24: Phil Mickelson plays his second shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge In Partnership With The Clinton Foundation at the TPC Stadium course at PGA West on January 24, 2016 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)