If you ever needed proof that Phil Mickelson's a great bloke, then it starts about 2 minutes 11 seconds into this video.
It's August 2014 and the tournament is The Barclays, in Paramus, New Jersey. Mickelson tries to drive the par-4 fifth hole, but his tee shot ends up in a hospitality area on a raised platform to the left of the green.
Turning down several offers of beer, he hits a recovery shot off the platform floor between the tables, over several rows of chairs and a safety barrier into a greenside bunker. He eventually walks off with a bogey.
It was a typical Phil Mickelson hole (except he didn't walk off with a par or a birdie), but the most impressive part of the whole incident happened after he'd taken his shot from on high, acknowledged the whoops and hollers with his trademark grin and descended the steps at the side of the stand.
Walking back to the course and already focussing on his next shot, he noticed a young boy who had moved to greet him before - realising the game situation - hesitating and stopping in his tracks.
Mickelson could have been forgiven for walking straight past the kid - he was halfway through playing a hole after all. I reckon any other golfer on the Tour would have done just that. But not Phil.
Instead, he stretches out his arm and shares a fist bump before carrying on with his round. It was over in a second. It was so quick, the TV commentators didn't pick up on it, but it made that kid's day.
The man is sheer class.
It's August 2014 and the tournament is The Barclays, in Paramus, New Jersey. Mickelson tries to drive the par-4 fifth hole, but his tee shot ends up in a hospitality area on a raised platform to the left of the green.
Turning down several offers of beer, he hits a recovery shot off the platform floor between the tables, over several rows of chairs and a safety barrier into a greenside bunker. He eventually walks off with a bogey.
It was a typical Phil Mickelson hole (except he didn't walk off with a par or a birdie), but the most impressive part of the whole incident happened after he'd taken his shot from on high, acknowledged the whoops and hollers with his trademark grin and descended the steps at the side of the stand.
Walking back to the course and already focussing on his next shot, he noticed a young boy who had moved to greet him before - realising the game situation - hesitating and stopping in his tracks.
Mickelson could have been forgiven for walking straight past the kid - he was halfway through playing a hole after all. I reckon any other golfer on the Tour would have done just that. But not Phil.
Instead, he stretches out his arm and shares a fist bump before carrying on with his round. It was over in a second. It was so quick, the TV commentators didn't pick up on it, but it made that kid's day.
The man is sheer class.
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