Phil Mickelson Scolds Young Golfer About Discussing Money Match: "That's high school stuff"

Phil Mickelson is not happy with Ryan Ruffels, a 17-year-old phenom from Australia. Ruffels claimed in an article with the Sydney Morning Herald that he and Mickelson had a money game, with Tim Mickelson, Phil’s brother who coaches men’s golf at Arizona State. Should Phil win, he would collect $2,500 from Ruffels once he turned pro, but if he lost, he would pay Ruffels $5,000.

"“We get on the first tee, it’s pretty early in the morning and he says, ‘I don’t wake up this early to play for any less than $2500’,” Ruffels recalled of a friendly offer made to him by Mickelson. The 42-time US PGA Tour winner gave Ruffels 2-1 odds; if Ruffels won, Mickelson would give him $5000, if he lost, Ruffels would have to pay up $2500 when he turned professional. “I was a few down through nine but then I birdied six of my last seven to win by one shot and took his money, so that was pretty cool,” Ruffels said with a laugh."

Now Mickelson is unhappy with the kids comments.

"“He’s a very nice person,” Mickelson began, choosing his words in front of a wall of TV cameras numbering more than a half a dozen. “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 continued, “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.”"

Ruffels’ management team did confirm that the story had been “overdone,” but Ruffels also says that he decided long ago to turn pro, after talking with Jason Day.

"“I talked to Jason, and he has no regrets about it,” Ruffels said. “Everyone has got to go through that learning curve at some point. You either go through it now at 17 or 18, or you got through it when you are 21 or 22,” he said. “So I feel like I am getting a step ahead in that regard.”"

Phil is a great guy, but when it comes to his gambling and money games, it’s best to avoid that talk, especially if you’re a 17-year-old kid who has only played with him once.

Luckily for the kid, he won’t be playing with Lefty at the Farmers Insurance Open this week. Ruffels tees off on 10 on the North Course at 12:50 PM and Phil tees off on 1 on the South Course at 1:40 PM. One of the two will likely be in the mix on Sunday, and I don’t think it’s the kid.

[Golf.com]