Mickelson Shows No Mercy In Match With Veteran Pro As He Rekindles Unlikely Friendship

Phil Mickelson has been helping out PGA Tour hopeful Mark Baldwin again, and showing no mercy in his match against the veteran pro

Phil Mickelson
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Paul Higham
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Again, Phil Mickelson has been handing out on-course playing lessons to his favourite PGA Tour hopeful Mark Baldwin - and showing no mercy in doing so.

The six-time Major champion famously helped prepare Baldwin for PGA Tour Q-School, giving up his time and hosting him at his home and local club to sharpen up his game.

Veteran pro Baldwin got a surprising offer of help from Mickelson, who played matches and gave him a short game clinic to prepare the Q-School hopeful to help him achieve his PGA Tour dream.

It did not work this time as Baldwin, who was backed by Monday Q Info’s Ryan French, finished T58 at eight over in the Second Stage of PGA Tour Q-School.

However, his association with Mickelson has continued, and he has been back out on the course with Lefty - who is showing him just how tough it could be out on tour.

On their latest match on the course, the Monday Q Info account posted a video of Baldwin fighting back in a matchplay encounter with Mickelson - only for the wily veteran to turn on his short game wizardry to close out the contest.

"@markbaldwingolf was 4-down at the turn and fought back to 2-down," read the post from @acaseofthegolf. "Phil missed the green on 16, opening the door for Mark…or so he thought."

The video stated that Mickelson ran out a 3&2 winner and went on to shoot 64, with Baldwin hitting a fine 67 himself.

After Mickelson responded to a social media message from French, he and Baldwin have become unlikely friends, and it's nice to see it continue even after his qualifying bid.

Following a weekend of a lifetime playing and practicing with Mickelson, Baldwin detailed just how much Mickelson put himself out to help him.

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In the continuing state of flux the golf world finds itself in, the friendship between the pair is a rare feel-good story for the game - showcasing more of the good of the sport.

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
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Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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