Getty Image / Rich Graessle
Phil Mickelson has owned Pebble Beach throughout his career winning a total of five AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Ams. It’s pretty clear that Mickelson knows his way around the course and how to get the job done on the coastal track, but apparently, he’s wanted to play the first hole differently, he’s just never gotten the green light to do so.
That changed this past week, however, thanks to a little thing called technology.
Mickelson didn’t play in last week’s Honda Classic, but he was still busy as he paid a visit to Dave Pelz, the short-game wizard, and decided to have a little fun on the simulator. He put Pebble Beach up on the screen and got to do something he’s never done in real life: pull the big stick out on the first tee and try to drive the green.
Lefty explained that he’s always wanted to try to drive the green on the opening Par 4, but with it being the first hole of the day he’s never wanted to come out of the gates that aggressive.
He may rethink that after the shot he pulled off on the simulator, though.
Even though it’s on a simulator, that’s an impressive shot. With the introduction and all of that, it’s pretty easy to see that this was indeed a first-take, too.
A 49-year-old Mickelson still hitting bombs and finding new ways to play a golf course he’s won on five times, that’s the good stuff.