A lot of the talk going into The Masters Champions Dinner was focused on whether players would enjoy Jon Rahm’s menu. It was strange to see that conversation stir up so much chatter.
After all, who doesn’t like tapas.
To no one’s surprise, coming out of the meal everyone seemed to have a good time and enjoyed the food. Rahm even detailed how comfortable everyone seemed despite numerous LIV Golf players attending.
But maybe that is because the typically loudest among them had fallen quiet.
At least, that is what Sir Nick Faldo hinted at.
“Phil was very quiet on Tuesday; he didn’t say a word,” Faldo said to Sky Sports during the first round of The Masters. “He was dead quiet, standing next to me. I wonder why.”
Mickelson is not usually one to remain silent. But it appears as though he was able to read the room.
Reading has always been a skill of his, as Mickelson has had a penchant for putting. That was on display yet again during his first round at Augusta.
Lefty posted a 1-over 73 but was able to gain 1.32 strokes on the field. It was the rest of his game that was not up to par.
Faldo made sure to allude to that as well.
“He’s a hell of a player, but he’s going to have to make a little bit more effort to step it up and get the right intensity,” said Faldo.
“He has been playing resort courses in his shorts for the last couple of months and hasn’t really been tested yet.”
This year’s Masters Tournament has certainly tested all of the players. High winds with gusts up to 45 miles per hour Friday have wreaked havoc on the field.
Only 24 of the 89 players are under par as of Friday afternoon. Of those, only nine of them are 3-under or better.
That includes co-leaders Max Homa and Bryson DeChambeau, who are playing fantastic golf.
Meanwhile, Mickelson is tied for 35th at 1-over a couple holes into his second round. The current cut line sits at 3-over, so Lefty might have a shot to prove Faldo wrong yet.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms.
