Phil Mickelson has long been a fan-favorite in pro golf.
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Ryan French is a name you might not be familiar with, but if you’re a golf fan, you’re likely familiar with his work. French is the man behind the popular Monday Q Info account that spotlights the grinders and journeymen in the game as he’s carved out a niche in the golf media space.
Being famous on social media comes with some perks — and one such benefit came in the form of a couple rounds of golf (along with a chipping lesson) from Phil Mickelson.
“Phil’s place in pro golf is obviously complicated,” French said on this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar. “But he’s been amazingly kind to a great fan in me.”
The connection between French and Mickelson came thanks to fellow professional golfer Mark Baldwin, who is a co-collaborator with French at Monday Q Info. Once the connection was made, Mickelson invited French out for a day of golf. There was only one issue: French was battling a debilitating case of the chipping yips.
“We are 10 feet away from the green, and I am chunking and skulling chips across the green,” French said. “I hit 10 [shots] and I didn’t keep one on the green in front of Phil Mickelson. And that’s how I met him.”
Luckily for French, Mickelson had some sound advice to remedy the yips.
“I was in dark places,” French said. “It’s really helped.”
Once they got out on the course, the day was a memorable one.
“I got to play 36 holes [with him] in the pouring-a** rain with one of the greatest golfers of our lifetime,” French said. “This is cool as hell.”
Check out the entire episode of Subpar below.
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