{"id":42732,"date":"2026-07-26T22:53:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T22:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/42732\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T22:53:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T22:53:43","slug":"what-phil-mickelson-once-did-at-the-presidents-cup-that-left-kevin-kisner-completely-stunned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/42732\/","title":{"rendered":"What Phil Mickelson once did at the Presidents Cup that left Kevin Kisner completely stunned"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\/ Follow us on Google Discover <\/a> <\/p>\n

Kevin Kisner has opened up on what the experience of being paired with Phil Mickelson at the Presidents Cup was like, as he revealed what the six-time major champion decided to do while Kisner prepared to hit the opening tee shot in their first match. <\/p>\n

Mickelson had played in every single edition of the Presidents Cup leading into the 2017 event at Liberty National. Meanwhile, Kisner was making his debut in a team event for USA. <\/p>\n

So it made some sense that Steve Stricker put the pair together for the opening session in New York. It fell to Kisner to hit the first tee shot of the match. <\/p>\n

Unfortunately, when Kisner needed some encouragement from his partner, he realised that Mickelson was nowhere to be seen. <\/p>\n

What Phil Mickelson was doing while Kevin Kisner prepared to hit the opening tee shot at the Presidents Cup<\/p>\n

Speaking on the We Need A Fourth podcast<\/a>, Kisner revealed what the veteran was up to while he prepared to get their match with Jason Day and Marc Leishman underway. <\/p>\n

\"KevinPhoto by Rob Carr\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most nervous I ever was and I had to hit the shot was the first hole of the Presidents Cup. My first team event was in New York, at Liberty National, 2017. And they paired me with Phil Mickelson<\/a> who obviously has played in every cup for 20 years. We get to the first hole and it\u2019s 30 miles an hour, straight downhill, water left, out of bounds right. It\u2019s alternate shot so I\u2019m the one teeing off and I\u2019m basically s\u2014\u2014g my pants. I turn around to look for Phil for words of assurance. \u2018Hey man, I need some help\u2019. And I look up and he\u2019s in the stands with Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush taking selfies. I told my caddie, \u2018dude, we\u2019re on two different wavelengths right here. I don\u2019t know how I\u2019m physically going to do this and he\u2019s there partying with the Presidents\u2019,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI swung and when I hit it, I still don\u2019t even remember making contact. But I looked up and the ball\u2019s going straight down the middle. And I said, \u2018dear lord, how did I do that?\u2019 And he doesn\u2019t even catch up until 50 yards off the tee. He puts his arm around me and goes, \u2018how did we do, partner?\u2019 I go, \u2018you weren\u2019t even watching? I\u2019m over here dying\u2019. He\u2019s like, \u2018it doesn\u2019t matter, we\u2019ll get them. It doesn\u2019t matter if we lose the first hole, we\u2019ll beat them\u2019. He\u2019s the most positive guy I\u2019ve ever met.\u201d<\/p>\n

The incredible reaction Phil Mickelson had to one stunning approach shot at Liberty National<\/p>\n

Mickelson is certainly a divisive figure among fans. While at the peak of his powers however, he seemed to be one of the most popular players in the game. <\/p>\n

And it seems that Kisner could not speak high enough about his abilities on the golf course. They went unbeaten during their three matches together, winning twice. Neither man lost in the singles either as Team USA won 19-11. <\/p>\n

MORE PRESIDENTS CUP STORIES<\/p>\n

Kisner went on to tell an amazing story about how Mickelson reacted after hitting a shot that only he was probably capable of. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t want anybody else. It\u2019s amazing. Him and I are so different on a human level. But to have him on your side is fascinating. I could go on for days with stories of what he said during that match,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe third hole is blowing 50 straight into the face, long par four. I hit a tee shot. He\u2019s got 230 yards into this par four, the pin\u2019s just over a bunker, it\u2019s blowing 30 in our face. And he hits this iron shot, it looks like god hit it himself. It never leaves the flag, towering two-iron straight at the flag, lands a foot over the bunker and goes to three feet. And I don\u2019t even think anything, I was just in awe of the shot. I just start walking. And he goes, \u2018hey partner\u2019, and I turn around and he goes, \u2018I made that look a lot easier than it was\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

That would prove to be Mickelson\u2019s final playing appearance in the Presidents Cup. He was a part of the team that travelled to France for the Ryder Cup the following year \u2013 though the less said about that, the better perhaps. <\/p>\n

There is now a huge question mark hanging over whether Mickelson will ever return to the Presidents Cup fold as a captain. <\/p>\n

Obviously, the event is run by the PGA Tour, so it looks considerably less likely than a Ryder Cup captaincy \u2013 which already seems extremely improbable. <\/p>\n

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