Team USA’s Justin Thomas, former world number one, decided to have a little fun and prank fans outside of the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta. He was attending a USA team dinner with other golfers who automatically qualified for the Ryder Cup when he decided to stir the pot by saying, loud enough that the nearby fans could hear, “I can’t believe we’re picking Phil? What do you guys think about that?”
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Of course, he meant Phil Mickelson, and it was a cruel joke for any USA golf fan. Mickelson, 51, nicknamed Lefty, has won six major championships and 45 events on the PGA tour — accolades that make him one of the all-time great golfers and veteran of the Ryder Cup. However, this year, Mickelson will play the role of assistant captain and will not be involved in actual play.
The Ryder Cup is a bi-annual golf tournament that pits team USA up against Europe. The event takes place on the Whistling Straights golf course in Wisconsin. Team USA will bring along 12 golfers — six that qualify automatically through their performances throughout the year and six that are chosen.
Listen to Thomas’ account of his interaction with the fans:
