x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Why Jon Rahm thought Phil Mickelson had no chance to win the PGA Championship
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
      • Emergency 9
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • Emergency 9
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Great for yourself...or your Dad

InsideGOLF
News

Why Jon Rahm thought Phil Mickelson had no chance to win the PGA Championship

By: James Colgan
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
June 3, 2021
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
jon rahm and phil mickelson

Few people could believe Phil Mickelson's miraculous win at the PGA Championship, least of all Jon Rahm.

Getty Images

DUBLIN, Ohio — Jon Rahm isn’t a betting man, and that’s a good thing.

Rahm spent Wednesday afternoon’s returning champion press conference at the Memorial Tournament discussing…somebody else’s win. It’s been two weeks since Phil Mickelson stunned the golf world and became the oldest major champion in golf history at age 50, but the shock hasn’t worn off for his 26-year-old PGA Tour counterpart.

“I love Phil. He’s been a great mentor to me. And the Mickelson family is very close to me. They mean a lot,” Rahm said. “I’m not going to lie, with how windy it was out there and towards the end all I could say is, ‘I cannot believe he’s going to pull this off.'”

Rahm has formed a tight bond with Mickelson over the last few years. He was as close as anyone to Mickelson down the home stretch at the Ocean Course. After Lefty rolled in the winning putt on the 18th green, Rahm was right there (in a ‘dad bod’ tee shirt) to offer a hug.

Turns out Jon Rahm’s newfound ‘perspective’ in fatherhood is actually just dad joke t-shirts. pic.twitter.com/IdgO8QTzch

— James Colgan (@JamesColgan26) May 24, 2021

But there’s an old adage among gamblers about betting with your head, not your heart. And leading into the PGA Championship, Jon Rahm’s head told him Phil didn’t have a prayer.

“I don’t know if I told him this, but I will tell him straight up, if I would tell you like the last person I would put money on to win that week, Phil would be one of those,” Rahm said. “It would be down there.”

The reason?

“How long it is, how many drivers you need to hit, and how windy it is.”

The irony in a metaphorical bet against Mickelson is not lost on Rahm. After all, a bet has served as the foundation of the pair’s friendship for years.

Back in 2016, when Rahm first turned pro, Mickelson bet his friends that the young Spaniard (and fellow Arizona State Sun Devil) would soon become one of the top 10 players in the world. When word of the wager trickled back, his confidence surged.

News
Phil Mickelson Jon Rahm
Phil Mickelson once won big by betting on Jon Rahm’s future
By: Sean Zak

“[Phil] never came and told me, ‘Hey, I got this bet, you got to get it done,'” he remembered. “I heard from other people that was a bet. And for somebody who just turned pro, it’s a huge boost.”

Rahm eventually made good on his end of the wager, even briefly ascending to the top spot in the world last year. But not even a former World No. 1 and close friend could have seen Mickelson’s victory at the PGA Championship coming — a fact that Rahm says is owed as much to the difficulty of the setup as it is to Phil’s perceived ability.

“You had a couple years where Tom Watson and Greg Norman went to the Open Championship and had a chance,” he said. “I do believe the Open would be the one event for somebody who is older to be able to win, because you can think your way around the golf course. [Kiawah], with how long it was, at the age of 50, for Phil to be able to do what he did, it’s unbelievable.”

Jon Rahm isn’t a betting man. That’s a good thing, because if he was, he’d be out some money right about now.

“He hadn’t been playing great golf, but that shows you the greatness of a great champion; it doesn’t matter.”

Latest In News

1 hour ago

What channel is the U.S. Open on? How to watch the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont

1 hour ago

2025 U.S. Open Thursday TV coverage: How to watch Round 1

12 hours ago

He quit golf. Now he's playing his first U.S. Open

12 hours ago

8 'Oakmont things' pros are quickly learning at the U.S. Open

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a news and features editor at GOLF, writing stories for the website and magazine. He manages the Hot Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and utilizes his on-camera experience across the brand’s platforms. Prior to joining GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, during which time he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Long Island, where he is from. He can be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
Scottie Scheffler and Ben Griffin finished 1-2 at Memorial.

Nicklaus talks Scottie, Griffin talks sunglasses | Monday Finish

By: Dylan Dethier
News
Jack Nicklaus speaks into microphone after the final round of the 2025 Memorial Tournament.

'I can't stand that': Jack Nicklaus jabs controversial golf-TV innovation

By: Kevin Cunningham
Irons
Scottie Scheffler watches a shot at the Memorial.

Want to play Scottie Scheffler's irons? They're available to the public

By: Jack Hirsh
Gear
Scottie Scheffler watches a tee shot at the Memorial.

Scottie Scheffler's clubs: Inside his Memorial Tournament-winning setup

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Scottie Scheffler reacts to winning the 2025 Memorial Tournament

Scottie Scheffler can use Tiger Woods, history as guide after latest dominant win

By: Josh Schrock
News
Rickie Fowler hits a tee shot during the 2025 Memorial Tournament

Rickie Fowler checks massive box in major championship quest but another looms

By: Josh Schrock
News
Scottie Scheffler walks off the tee during the final round of the Memorial.

Memorial 2025 payout: Here's how much every player made

By: Josh Berhow
News
Ben Griffin hits a tee shot during the 2025 Memorial Tournament

Ben Griffin's explanation for wearing sunglasses is scarier than expected

By: Josh Schrock
News
Scottie Scheffler waves to the crowd after making birdie on the 14th green during the third round of the Memorial Tournament.

2025 Memorial purse: Payout breakdown, winner’s share

By: Josh Berhow
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version