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Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf's Most Colorful Superstar
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “A rollicking good time.” —Golfweek * “Thoroughly engaging.” —The Washington Post Now with a new a juicy and freewheeling biography of legendary golf champion Phil Mickelson—who has led a big, controversial life—as reported by longtime Sports Illustrated writer and bestselling author Alan Shipnuck.Phil Mickelson is one of the most compelling figures in sports. For more than three decades he has been among the best golfers in the world, and his unmatched longevity was exemplified at the 2021 PGA Championship, when Mickelson, on the cusp of turning fifty-one, became the oldest player in history to win a major championship. In this raw, uncensored, and unauthorized biography, Alan Shipnuck captures a singular life defined by thrilling victories, crushing defeats, and countless controversies. Mickelson is a multifaceted character, and all his warring impulses are on display in these He is a smart-ass who built an empire on being the consummate professional; a loving husband dogged by salacious rumors; a high-stakes gambler who knows the house always wins but can’t tear himself away. Mickelson’s career and public image have been defined by the contrast with his lifelong rival, Tiger Woods. Where Woods is robotic and reticent, Mickelson is affable and extroverted, an incorrigible showman whom many fans love and some abhor because of the overwhelming size of his personality. In their early years together on Tour, Mickelson lacked Tiger’s laser focus and discipline, leading Tida Woods to call her son’s rival “the fat boy,” among other put-downs. Yet as Tiger’s career has been curtailed by scandal, addiction, and a broken body, Phil sails on, still relevant on the golf course and in the marketplace. Phil is the perfect marriage of subject and author. Shipnuck has long been known as the most fearless writer on the golf beat, and he delivers numerous revelations, from the true scale of Mickelson’s massive gambling losses; to the inside story of the acrimonious breakup between Phil and his longtime caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay; to the secretive backstory of the Saudi golf league that Mickelson championed to wield as leverage against the PGA Tour. But Phil also celebrates Mickelson’s random acts of kindness and generosity of spirit, to which friends and strangers alike can attest. Shipnuck has covered Mickelson for his entire career and has been on the ground at Mickelson’s most memorable triumphs and crack-ups, allowing him to take you inside the ropes with a thrilling immediacy and intimacy. The result is the juiciest and liveliest golf book in years—full of heart, humor, and unexpected turns.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2022
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May 20, 2022I should really have a shelf for schlock journalism. Even the title uses the the adjective rip-roaring and inserts an (and Unauthorized!). Still, I not only read this, I actually pre-ordered it, golf nerd that I am.
Mickelson is painted as a loving husband, doting father, a curious mind with wide-ranging interests, an extreme extrovert, and of course one of the best golfers ever to play the game. But a gambler always, a needler, manipulative, a bully. So, a man who renders wonderful acts of charity yet stiffs his caddy. Complicated, bifurcated . . . like the rest of us.
The inside cover suggests "salacious rumors" but there's nothing there.
The author leaked the sensational stuff - Mickelson playing footsies with the Saudis - in advance podcasts, so that section didn't shock. Still, it was nice to see it in a kind of record.
Other golf nerds will find this kind of essential reading even while recognizing this isn't great literature or even good journalism.
The author intrudes himself in the story, giving him an importance that might be unwarranted.
One thing really annoyed me. Writing about Tiger Woods, Shipnuck had this to say: He was also distracted by his October 2004 wedding to Elin Nordegren, a onetime bikini model; in the unofficial competition to romance blond babes, Tiger and Phil were now all square. I would put money on Nordegren having a more impressive library than Shipnuck. And blond babes?
So, I had to read this. But it made me feel a little skanky.
Mickelson is painted as a loving husband, doting father, a curious mind with wide-ranging interests, an extreme extrovert, and of course one of the best golfers ever to play the game. But a gambler always, a needler, manipulative, a bully. So, a man who renders wonderful acts of charity yet stiffs his caddy. Complicated, bifurcated . . . like the rest of us.
The inside cover suggests "salacious rumors" but there's nothing there.
The author leaked the sensational stuff - Mickelson playing footsies with the Saudis - in advance podcasts, so that section didn't shock. Still, it was nice to see it in a kind of record.
Other golf nerds will find this kind of essential reading even while recognizing this isn't great literature or even good journalism.
The author intrudes himself in the story, giving him an importance that might be unwarranted.
One thing really annoyed me. Writing about Tiger Woods, Shipnuck had this to say: He was also distracted by his October 2004 wedding to Elin Nordegren, a onetime bikini model; in the unofficial competition to romance blond babes, Tiger and Phil were now all square. I would put money on Nordegren having a more impressive library than Shipnuck. And blond babes?
So, I had to read this. But it made me feel a little skanky.
January 8, 2023
This explosive biography generated a ton of controversy before it was even published. Though it's an unauthorized account, writer Alan Shipnuck set up a phone call with subject Phil Mickelson to set the record straight on a few things. During that conversation, the topic of the contentious LIV tour came up, and Mickelson acknowledged the fact that the Saudis were "scary motherf*kers" who executed journalists and gay people, but that it was too good an opportunity to turn down. These comments rocked the world of golf. Mickelson maintained that their chat was off the record, Shipnuck says that he will go to his grave knowing that wasn't the case. I know who I believe.
So the book had a lot of fanfare to live up to, and it gives me great pleasure to say that it is a hugely enjoyable read. The first chapter is worth the price of admission alone. In it, Shipnuck asks several people from the golfing fraternity to tell their favourite Phil story, jumping from one outrageous anecdote to the next. It really sets the pace for the rest of the book and leaves you salivating for more juicy gossip.
Shipnuck then goes into detail on Mickelson's upbringing and early development as a prodigious golfer. He attended Arizona State University and had a whale of a time there, meeting his future wife Amy, who is an absolute saint by all accounts. He burst onto the wider golf scene by winning his first PGA Tour event while still an amateur. This heralded the start of a stunning professional career as Mickelson began to rack up the wins, but he had the misfortune of existing at the same time as Tiger Woods, the best ever to play the game. And there is no love lost between the two, Phil's brash personality clashing strongly with Tiger's introverted tendencies. Despite his success, Mickelson was in danger of becoming one of the best players never to win a Major, a title nobody wants. But his memorable victory at the 2003 Masters changed that statistic, and he has gone on to win six Majors in total, cementing his legacy as one of the game's all-time greats.
So what kind of person is Mickelson behind it all? It's hard to say for sure, according to Shipnuck, he's a bit of an enigma. He's definitely an alpha male, one of the loudest voices in the dressing room. He's dedicated to his wife, and generous to a fault, doing all kinds of amazing work for charity. He's not afraid to speak his mind, and this has got him into trouble on more than one occasion. He also has a wicked sense of humour, the kind that some people enjoy, but others take offence to.
The book is not a hagiography of Mickelson by any means. Shipnuck doesn't shy away from examining Mickelson's darker side, including the aforementioned LIV tour. He takes a look at Phil's notorious gambling habits and his association with Billy Walters, a man who was convicted for insider trading. Phil's name came up during Walters' case and you get the feeling that he was extremely lucky to escape that one scot-free. The distasteful separation between Mickelson and his loyal caddy Bones Mackay also gets a mention and Phil doesn't come out of that one smelling of roses.
At the end of it all, the undeniable fact is that Phil Mickelson is a larger-than-life character, and that the game of golf would be much less colourful without him. Alan Shipnuck tells his riveting story in style - I can't think of a sports biography that has entertained me as much as this one.
So the book had a lot of fanfare to live up to, and it gives me great pleasure to say that it is a hugely enjoyable read. The first chapter is worth the price of admission alone. In it, Shipnuck asks several people from the golfing fraternity to tell their favourite Phil story, jumping from one outrageous anecdote to the next. It really sets the pace for the rest of the book and leaves you salivating for more juicy gossip.
Shipnuck then goes into detail on Mickelson's upbringing and early development as a prodigious golfer. He attended Arizona State University and had a whale of a time there, meeting his future wife Amy, who is an absolute saint by all accounts. He burst onto the wider golf scene by winning his first PGA Tour event while still an amateur. This heralded the start of a stunning professional career as Mickelson began to rack up the wins, but he had the misfortune of existing at the same time as Tiger Woods, the best ever to play the game. And there is no love lost between the two, Phil's brash personality clashing strongly with Tiger's introverted tendencies. Despite his success, Mickelson was in danger of becoming one of the best players never to win a Major, a title nobody wants. But his memorable victory at the 2003 Masters changed that statistic, and he has gone on to win six Majors in total, cementing his legacy as one of the game's all-time greats.
So what kind of person is Mickelson behind it all? It's hard to say for sure, according to Shipnuck, he's a bit of an enigma. He's definitely an alpha male, one of the loudest voices in the dressing room. He's dedicated to his wife, and generous to a fault, doing all kinds of amazing work for charity. He's not afraid to speak his mind, and this has got him into trouble on more than one occasion. He also has a wicked sense of humour, the kind that some people enjoy, but others take offence to.
The book is not a hagiography of Mickelson by any means. Shipnuck doesn't shy away from examining Mickelson's darker side, including the aforementioned LIV tour. He takes a look at Phil's notorious gambling habits and his association with Billy Walters, a man who was convicted for insider trading. Phil's name came up during Walters' case and you get the feeling that he was extremely lucky to escape that one scot-free. The distasteful separation between Mickelson and his loyal caddy Bones Mackay also gets a mention and Phil doesn't come out of that one smelling of roses.
At the end of it all, the undeniable fact is that Phil Mickelson is a larger-than-life character, and that the game of golf would be much less colourful without him. Alan Shipnuck tells his riveting story in style - I can't think of a sports biography that has entertained me as much as this one.
December 16, 2025
Phil by Alan Shipnuck
I love a good sports book—especially a good golf book—and Phil is easily one of the best I’ve read in 2025. So who is Phil Mickelson? To most fans, he’s “Lefty,” the affable, swashbuckling, left-handed golfer who has been both a foil and an antidote to Tiger Woods for decades. As a left-handed golfer myself, that’s what initially drew me to him 30 years ago. I’ve followed Phil for years, admiring his grip-it-and-rip-it style and his irresistible urge to hit the hero shot… even when it makes absolutely no sense. Sure, that wild approach has cost him some championships, but it has also helped him earn 45 PGA wins and 6 majors, including that astonishing PGA championship in his 50s.
What really sets Shipnuck’s book apart is his fearless reporting and journalistic integrity. He goes behind the scenes of Phil’s shocking breakup with longtime caddie Bones Mackay and finally gives fans the real story behind the split. He also takes us into the seamy underbelly of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, offering a clear-eyed, unvarnished look at the politics, money, and controversy swirling around Phil’s decision to jump ship.
Shipnuck doesn’t shy away from the messy parts either—the gambling addiction, the insider-trading scandal, the staggering sums of money lost, and the pattern of self-inflicted wounds that have dotted Phil’s off-course life. He presents all of it without sensationalism, showing how the same appetite for risk that makes Phil so electrifying on the course can also wreak havoc in the real world.
And yet, here I am: I’m still a Phil fan. The man won a major in his 50s! He’s brilliant, reckless, generous, impulsive, controversial, and endlessly compelling. Shipnuck captures all of that with clarity and style.
But maybe the best part? This book is just tons of fun. It’s a joy to flip each page—full of great stories, revealing interviews, sharp humor, and the kind of energy that reminds you why sports biographies can be such a thrill.
If you’re a golf fan—or simply love a larger-than-life character brought to life by a first-rate writer—this one is a must-read. Hard cover (I got a new copy at a library book sale for $3!) and audio.
I love a good sports book—especially a good golf book—and Phil is easily one of the best I’ve read in 2025. So who is Phil Mickelson? To most fans, he’s “Lefty,” the affable, swashbuckling, left-handed golfer who has been both a foil and an antidote to Tiger Woods for decades. As a left-handed golfer myself, that’s what initially drew me to him 30 years ago. I’ve followed Phil for years, admiring his grip-it-and-rip-it style and his irresistible urge to hit the hero shot… even when it makes absolutely no sense. Sure, that wild approach has cost him some championships, but it has also helped him earn 45 PGA wins and 6 majors, including that astonishing PGA championship in his 50s.
What really sets Shipnuck’s book apart is his fearless reporting and journalistic integrity. He goes behind the scenes of Phil’s shocking breakup with longtime caddie Bones Mackay and finally gives fans the real story behind the split. He also takes us into the seamy underbelly of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, offering a clear-eyed, unvarnished look at the politics, money, and controversy swirling around Phil’s decision to jump ship.
Shipnuck doesn’t shy away from the messy parts either—the gambling addiction, the insider-trading scandal, the staggering sums of money lost, and the pattern of self-inflicted wounds that have dotted Phil’s off-course life. He presents all of it without sensationalism, showing how the same appetite for risk that makes Phil so electrifying on the course can also wreak havoc in the real world.
And yet, here I am: I’m still a Phil fan. The man won a major in his 50s! He’s brilliant, reckless, generous, impulsive, controversial, and endlessly compelling. Shipnuck captures all of that with clarity and style.
But maybe the best part? This book is just tons of fun. It’s a joy to flip each page—full of great stories, revealing interviews, sharp humor, and the kind of energy that reminds you why sports biographies can be such a thrill.
If you’re a golf fan—or simply love a larger-than-life character brought to life by a first-rate writer—this one is a must-read. Hard cover (I got a new copy at a library book sale for $3!) and audio.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2022
Really good biography of Phil Mickelson. Much of the publicity about this book was about Phil’s comments about the Saudi Golf League, but this book was much more than that. Phil is a larger than life figure and has been a favorite of mine for a long time. This book shows how complicated of a figure he is. Worth the read.
July 26, 2022
Phil Mickelson is one of the most popular golfers in the game’s long history. He drew many fans that would follow him at every tournament he entered, and his success has nearly equaled his popularity. He has won 45 tournaments, including 6 majors after a wildly successful college career at Arizona State. His complete story, including his recent entry into the new LIV tour, is told in this book by award-winning golf writer Alan Shipnick, who also narrates the audio version.
If a reader wants personal stories, especially from friends and family, they are present. There are not a lot of them after Mickelson turned pro, but they are present throughout the book. The best ones and most entertaining are those about his time at Arizona State, especially from his teammates. When listening to them, they seemed a lot like the Phil Mickelson a fan sees on the course – outgoing, smiling, joking – in short, just having fun. Even when he was a killer on the course, given his college record.
If one wants to read about Mickelson’s best moments on the course, especially in the majors where he has experienced both triumph and frustration (especially in the US Open, where he has finished second six times, the only major he has not won), those are present as well. The shot-by-shot descriptions are evidence of Shipnick’s experience in this type of writing. Both Phil and his wife Amy are portrayed fairly and mostly positively.
“Mostly” was used because in Phil’s case, his many controversies are covered as well and they are not used to portray him in a negative light. Just like his successful majors, any controversy one may remember about Phil is covered – the infamous press conference after the 2014 Ryder Cup, the investigation into insider trading he did to pay off gambling debts and the most recent, the LIV tour. Whether it is these or the lighter moments, Shipnick portrays Phil as a very complex individual which is more than fair. While listening, if Shipnick was making any judgements, they were not apparent and that is one of the best aspects of this book.
Shipnick does include himself in the book, including the opening story, but not overly so and does not make those parts about him, but instead how they relate to Phil’s story – a story that no matter how one feels about him, any golf fan will enjoy reading.
If a reader wants personal stories, especially from friends and family, they are present. There are not a lot of them after Mickelson turned pro, but they are present throughout the book. The best ones and most entertaining are those about his time at Arizona State, especially from his teammates. When listening to them, they seemed a lot like the Phil Mickelson a fan sees on the course – outgoing, smiling, joking – in short, just having fun. Even when he was a killer on the course, given his college record.
If one wants to read about Mickelson’s best moments on the course, especially in the majors where he has experienced both triumph and frustration (especially in the US Open, where he has finished second six times, the only major he has not won), those are present as well. The shot-by-shot descriptions are evidence of Shipnick’s experience in this type of writing. Both Phil and his wife Amy are portrayed fairly and mostly positively.
“Mostly” was used because in Phil’s case, his many controversies are covered as well and they are not used to portray him in a negative light. Just like his successful majors, any controversy one may remember about Phil is covered – the infamous press conference after the 2014 Ryder Cup, the investigation into insider trading he did to pay off gambling debts and the most recent, the LIV tour. Whether it is these or the lighter moments, Shipnick portrays Phil as a very complex individual which is more than fair. While listening, if Shipnick was making any judgements, they were not apparent and that is one of the best aspects of this book.
Shipnick does include himself in the book, including the opening story, but not overly so and does not make those parts about him, but instead how they relate to Phil’s story – a story that no matter how one feels about him, any golf fan will enjoy reading.
June 10, 2022
Alan Shipnuck has done us a service in writing this biography. It is not a scholarly account, though it is critical in the popular use of the word. I found it fair--unafraid to point out Mickelson's foibles, but also taking great delight in his successes. Speaking of balance, Shipnuck also handily alternates between personal life and exploits on the links. I learned a good deal about Mickelson's childhood and also found myself wishing I could go back and watch quite a few tournaments! Even that disaster at Winged Foot.
Like any unauthorized biography, this one suffers from a lack of access to the subject. Mickelson did go on the record once with Shipnuck . . . and that's the interview that got Mickelson in all the hot water earlier this year. I still can't figure out why. He didn't say anything false, and was admirably upfront in his desire for leverage against the autocratic PGA TOUR. And yet the golfer was nearly crucified. No wonder he jumped ship to the LIV--what else does he have to lose?
One would think the sun is setting on Mickelson's career, but he's surprised us before, and no one should doubt that could do it again.
Like any unauthorized biography, this one suffers from a lack of access to the subject. Mickelson did go on the record once with Shipnuck . . . and that's the interview that got Mickelson in all the hot water earlier this year. I still can't figure out why. He didn't say anything false, and was admirably upfront in his desire for leverage against the autocratic PGA TOUR. And yet the golfer was nearly crucified. No wonder he jumped ship to the LIV--what else does he have to lose?
One would think the sun is setting on Mickelson's career, but he's surprised us before, and no one should doubt that could do it again.
December 11, 2025
Don’t hate me…. But I devoured this book and enjoyed every minute.
The author is not really a great writer. He uses lots of cliches and some really make you roll your eyes, but he really kept the book moving along and it was a fun, touching and very much an eye opening book.
I have followed golf since the late 60’s because my Dad lived and breathed the sport. I have so many memories of watching matches with him when most kids were watching cartoons. I knew who Jack Nicklaus was before I knew who Shaggy and Scooby were. My Dad had me well trained. We would go to the school down the street from our house and he would practice driving balls and I would watch where they landed and run collect them. He is probably the reason I was so good in track and field. All that running! My Dad died in 2010 and they took his breathing tube out in the ICU to say some last words to all of us and his final words he ever spoke was…. “Tee Time is Near.” He died with a smile on his face.
Phil! Now Phil is an enigma. He has been my favorite player since the mid 90’s. I just loved his ambling way of walking the greens. Tipping his hat and giving his nerdy thumbs up. I remember the Easter Sunday when he won the Masters. We were at my parent’s house and all the women had gathered upstairs to chat about shopping and cooking and who cares what…. But this girl was downstairs with the men watching golf. I kept telling my brothers and my husband and my Dad that Phil was going to get his Green Jacket that day. They all laughed. My brother said…why do you like Phil so much? Do you think he is cute or something? (I did) But I told them all the real truth. Phil was just this big talented goof up that would get within a hair of winning a major and then do something spectacularly stupid and screw it all up. I found him endearing.
Phil made that winning putt on the 18th hole and I jumped out my chair screaming Phil just won the Masters!! My Dad was smiling from ear to ear and I know he was smiling more for me than for Phil. It was just such a special moment… but Phil did do that little jump after he won and we all laughed and I said… See… that is why I love Phil! He just loves life and shows it.
I didn’t know the darker side of Phil with his gambling issues and shady insider trading possibilities… that all seem to happen after my Dad died and it took me awhile to watch golf again without crying.
His whole Saudi Arabia golf league fiasco left me stunned. I get he was trying to force a change in the PGA… but not with those people. It was like getting in bed with the devil. I think he made a huge mistake getting involved with that whole mess and I had to scratch my head and rethink my Phil infatuation.
I was very touched by his devotion to his wife Amy. They share the kind of love we should all be so lucky to have. They have three wonderful children and from all accounts they seem to still be deeply in love after over 25 years of marriage. They just work well together. He is lost without her and she calms him down.
Phil is not the Phil I imagined. He has a biting sense of humor and is prone to taking over every conversation. He brags quite a bit…. But he has the goods to back it up… but still a little humble pie goes a long way.
He also seems to be as full of shit as a Christmas goose at times…. So one needs to take what he says with a grain of salt from time to time. He is no doubt highly intelligent and he is also a risk taker. In life and in golf. He is not a drinker and seems to just be high off of loving life. Not too shabby.
It was fun reading about his and Tiger’s relationship. Not a lot of love lost there…. But Woods has no sense of humor and doesn’t engage with the public or his fans and Phil just oozes niceness. He loves his fans and he is very generous with charities. However… he was not very generous with his long time caddy, Jim Mackay, not paying him money he earned and other things that he could have easily given to him. They were as close as brothers and Phil let money get in the way. $900,000 over a decade. That may seem like a lot, but considering Phil made about $40 million a year that was nothing. It was written that he owed about $40 million in gambling debts…. But he is worth $400 million. He did sell his Gulfstream jet, which also made people wonder if there were money issues because he loved that plane. Phil was a pilot and loved flying. I’m not sure if he flew the jet, but his Dad was a commercial pilot.
Phil’s biggest gripe about living in California is the taxes and in 2020 he and Amy bought land in Florida to build a mansion where the taxes are much lower. They started construction at the time the book was written, but were not planning to move until their youngest son graduated high school. Last I heard they were still in Rancho Santa Fe, California and they they still have the house on the market for almost $8 million, which is really a steal for that place!!
All in all, even with the author inserting himself into just about every aspect of their life this book was a really good read. You may feel a bit “dirty” for enjoying it….. but that is what soap is for.
If you are a Phil fan or a golf fan…. Read it!
Oh and this is an Unauthorized biography as is plainly stated on the cover…. So you have to decide who you believe and who you don’t!
Enjoy!
The author is not really a great writer. He uses lots of cliches and some really make you roll your eyes, but he really kept the book moving along and it was a fun, touching and very much an eye opening book.
I have followed golf since the late 60’s because my Dad lived and breathed the sport. I have so many memories of watching matches with him when most kids were watching cartoons. I knew who Jack Nicklaus was before I knew who Shaggy and Scooby were. My Dad had me well trained. We would go to the school down the street from our house and he would practice driving balls and I would watch where they landed and run collect them. He is probably the reason I was so good in track and field. All that running! My Dad died in 2010 and they took his breathing tube out in the ICU to say some last words to all of us and his final words he ever spoke was…. “Tee Time is Near.” He died with a smile on his face.
Phil! Now Phil is an enigma. He has been my favorite player since the mid 90’s. I just loved his ambling way of walking the greens. Tipping his hat and giving his nerdy thumbs up. I remember the Easter Sunday when he won the Masters. We were at my parent’s house and all the women had gathered upstairs to chat about shopping and cooking and who cares what…. But this girl was downstairs with the men watching golf. I kept telling my brothers and my husband and my Dad that Phil was going to get his Green Jacket that day. They all laughed. My brother said…why do you like Phil so much? Do you think he is cute or something? (I did) But I told them all the real truth. Phil was just this big talented goof up that would get within a hair of winning a major and then do something spectacularly stupid and screw it all up. I found him endearing.
Phil made that winning putt on the 18th hole and I jumped out my chair screaming Phil just won the Masters!! My Dad was smiling from ear to ear and I know he was smiling more for me than for Phil. It was just such a special moment… but Phil did do that little jump after he won and we all laughed and I said… See… that is why I love Phil! He just loves life and shows it.
I didn’t know the darker side of Phil with his gambling issues and shady insider trading possibilities… that all seem to happen after my Dad died and it took me awhile to watch golf again without crying.
His whole Saudi Arabia golf league fiasco left me stunned. I get he was trying to force a change in the PGA… but not with those people. It was like getting in bed with the devil. I think he made a huge mistake getting involved with that whole mess and I had to scratch my head and rethink my Phil infatuation.
I was very touched by his devotion to his wife Amy. They share the kind of love we should all be so lucky to have. They have three wonderful children and from all accounts they seem to still be deeply in love after over 25 years of marriage. They just work well together. He is lost without her and she calms him down.
Phil is not the Phil I imagined. He has a biting sense of humor and is prone to taking over every conversation. He brags quite a bit…. But he has the goods to back it up… but still a little humble pie goes a long way.
He also seems to be as full of shit as a Christmas goose at times…. So one needs to take what he says with a grain of salt from time to time. He is no doubt highly intelligent and he is also a risk taker. In life and in golf. He is not a drinker and seems to just be high off of loving life. Not too shabby.
It was fun reading about his and Tiger’s relationship. Not a lot of love lost there…. But Woods has no sense of humor and doesn’t engage with the public or his fans and Phil just oozes niceness. He loves his fans and he is very generous with charities. However… he was not very generous with his long time caddy, Jim Mackay, not paying him money he earned and other things that he could have easily given to him. They were as close as brothers and Phil let money get in the way. $900,000 over a decade. That may seem like a lot, but considering Phil made about $40 million a year that was nothing. It was written that he owed about $40 million in gambling debts…. But he is worth $400 million. He did sell his Gulfstream jet, which also made people wonder if there were money issues because he loved that plane. Phil was a pilot and loved flying. I’m not sure if he flew the jet, but his Dad was a commercial pilot.
Phil’s biggest gripe about living in California is the taxes and in 2020 he and Amy bought land in Florida to build a mansion where the taxes are much lower. They started construction at the time the book was written, but were not planning to move until their youngest son graduated high school. Last I heard they were still in Rancho Santa Fe, California and they they still have the house on the market for almost $8 million, which is really a steal for that place!!
All in all, even with the author inserting himself into just about every aspect of their life this book was a really good read. You may feel a bit “dirty” for enjoying it….. but that is what soap is for.
If you are a Phil fan or a golf fan…. Read it!
Oh and this is an Unauthorized biography as is plainly stated on the cover…. So you have to decide who you believe and who you don’t!
Enjoy!
May 27, 2022
I had the thought going in that because of the "unauthorized" in the title, this would be a hatchet job on old Phil. It isn't at all. It presents Phil as a real person with many good points and a few bad points. I came away with a lot more respect and affection for the man.
May 21, 2022
Good read. Fascinating person.
May 23, 2022
I don’t normally read Shipnuck because his writing is pedestrian and his favourite word is “I”. It seems like he always wants to insert himself into his stories. I set those reservations aside for this book because I was (past tense) a huge Phil fan. I was looking forward to reading some behind-the-scenes insights and some juicy stories.
What I got was pretty “meh”. About 90% of this book is just a chronological telling of Phil’s career that I could have read on Wikipedia. The juicy stories were few and far between. It seems like the author couldn’t get enough insiders to go on the record (or maybe Phil just doesn’t have a lot of insiders).
I don’t want to sound like I’m damning with faint praise; there’s nothing wrong with the book. It’s just very, very OK and I was hoping for more. It’s also a quick read so I’m glad I bought the Kindle edition because I would have been more disappointed if I had sprung for the full price of the hardcover.
What I got was pretty “meh”. About 90% of this book is just a chronological telling of Phil’s career that I could have read on Wikipedia. The juicy stories were few and far between. It seems like the author couldn’t get enough insiders to go on the record (or maybe Phil just doesn’t have a lot of insiders).
I don’t want to sound like I’m damning with faint praise; there’s nothing wrong with the book. It’s just very, very OK and I was hoping for more. It’s also a quick read so I’m glad I bought the Kindle edition because I would have been more disappointed if I had sprung for the full price of the hardcover.
October 22, 2024
Phil Mickelson is a man of many contradictions, simultaneously being: incredibly generous and shockingly petty, overwhelmingly positive and comically bitter, and tremendously smart but bizarrely reckless.
It is this dichotomy that makes him both one of the most fascinating and frustrating athletes in the world: I found myself rooting for him in the book when he finally wins his first major in his 30s and then shaking my head when he uses press conferences to disparage other players and officials.
This book leaves nothing out but you’ll still walk away wondering: does anyone really know Phil Mickelson?
It is this dichotomy that makes him both one of the most fascinating and frustrating athletes in the world: I found myself rooting for him in the book when he finally wins his first major in his 30s and then shaking my head when he uses press conferences to disparage other players and officials.
This book leaves nothing out but you’ll still walk away wondering: does anyone really know Phil Mickelson?
July 10, 2023
I enjoyed the book, and would recommend same to any golf enthusiast, especially one curious about the subject of the book, Phil Mickelson. I thought the author did a pretty good job writing about Phil’s remarkable golf game yet weaving in the personal side of Phil. Both are great stories: the personal stuff was intriguing whereas the details regarding Phil’s practice sessions (especially early in life in his backyard with his dad), remarkable shot making, and full-throttle brinksmanship style of golf was downright fascinating.
July 6, 2022
A thorough biography from a great sports writer, "Phil" explores everything from Mickelson's family history, his early childhood, amateur career and then professional life up the the LIV decision.
I came into the book expecting my opinion on one of my favorite sports heroes to sour, and came away pleasantly surprised that Shipnuck was able to paint the full picture of Phil, preserve his legacy AND be critical where necessary
Good read
I came into the book expecting my opinion on one of my favorite sports heroes to sour, and came away pleasantly surprised that Shipnuck was able to paint the full picture of Phil, preserve his legacy AND be critical where necessary
Good read
February 2, 2024
This book is the definition of fine. It's essentially an amalgamation of the usual Phil stories that have been told for years. The book is sort of like meeting with an old friend where you reminisce about the good old days. Like when we made homemade ice cream in Mrs. Wachuta's 3rd grade science class. Simpler times, man..
*Full disclosure: I listened to this as an audiobook, but it's 2024 and we WON'T be shaming people for putting audiobooks in their GoodReads
*Full disclosure: I listened to this as an audiobook, but it's 2024 and we WON'T be shaming people for putting audiobooks in their GoodReads
May 23, 2022
Side by side with Tiger’s bio, the detailed game play was a little bit too overdone— literally swing by swing for all his biggest matches. You could tell he was a sports columnist. Definitely less interviews of people really close to him, so I still felt confused about Phil as a person…. The author also should have waited at least a year for the Saudi Golf League drama to play out.
August 20, 2022
Absolutely amazing. Enigma is an accurate description of Mickelson but somehow seems inadequate. Golf fans will love this book — well, maybe not diehard Phil Phans — but I think non-golfers will also enjoy it. The reaction to P.M. since the book has been published is very telling, especially from some of his former Tour buddies.
December 8, 2023
I am not a golf guy, but I'm a sucker for biographies of interesting characters backed by strong writing, which Shipnuck supplies in spades. Probably would be 5 stars if I was into golf (the details of shots in various tournaments, while detailed and described incredibly, were lost on this non-golfer), but overall recommend it with a strong recommend if you're into golf.
August 28, 2022
Oh Phil…. If you would not have joined LIV, I probably could have forgiven a lot of your Phil-isms of the past. But alas, you went after the money (to probably pay off gambling debts) and tarnished so much of your past awesomeness. Good book and the person I feel the most sorry for is Bones
May 21, 2022
Great read about an enigmatic but talented individual.
July 20, 2022
The end of the book, where Mickelson talks about LIV, got all the attention, but the first 90% is where the good stuff is. Great reporting, great stories. An easy read about a difficult man.
August 3, 2022
Excellent unauthorized bio of a great golfer m
with lots of gossip about the PGA and other professional golfers. Insight
into player rivalries. Hard to put down.
with lots of gossip about the PGA and other professional golfers. Insight
into player rivalries. Hard to put down.
September 9, 2022
Seems to tell the balanced truth about Phil Mickelson the golfer. And as much as can be accurately known about the person. An interesting ride!
May 18, 2023
Only fitting to read this book on the road to Pinehurst! Great book about Phil’s illustrious career.
February 25, 2024
I really wasn't jumping up and down to read this book but it was much better than expected. Shipnuck does a nice job painting a clearer picture of a very complicated superstar!
January 28, 2023
This book is wildly entertaining. If I were rating it on ease of access, drama, humor, etc. it would easily be a 5 star experience and I’d highly recommend it to fans of golf and Phil.
The real shortcoming of this biography is in the storytelling. Alan Shipnuck is a great writer, but also a journalist; it’s hard to read this work and feel like you’re not getting journalistic spin- or “side sauce,” to put it as Mickelson might.
It’s possible that every word, and account, in this highly entertaining tale of one of the only true characters in golf, is 100% true. I doubt that’s the case. At points Shipnuck is speculative, at others it seems he plays the victim of Phil’s mistrust and ire. I would contend, if he is honest, that Shipnuck might feel that Phil’s relationship with him is that of the schoolyard bully, the man who cornered and “threatened” him at at the PGA back in 1999. This entire piece feels like he never recovered from that moment, and has been waiting for the get back. As a fan of Phil (one who celebrated by fist-pumping in the streets as Mickleson clinched his 6th major victory), I might be biased. Shipnuck reads like a man who may have celebrated the (several) public disgraces of Mickelson in the same way.
If Shipnuck had really known- and had the trust of- his subject, would he have given this account? It’s impossible to know for sure- my guess is no.
5/5 for entertainment.
1/5 for being a non-fiction, good faith account of a man’s life.
The real shortcoming of this biography is in the storytelling. Alan Shipnuck is a great writer, but also a journalist; it’s hard to read this work and feel like you’re not getting journalistic spin- or “side sauce,” to put it as Mickelson might.
It’s possible that every word, and account, in this highly entertaining tale of one of the only true characters in golf, is 100% true. I doubt that’s the case. At points Shipnuck is speculative, at others it seems he plays the victim of Phil’s mistrust and ire. I would contend, if he is honest, that Shipnuck might feel that Phil’s relationship with him is that of the schoolyard bully, the man who cornered and “threatened” him at at the PGA back in 1999. This entire piece feels like he never recovered from that moment, and has been waiting for the get back. As a fan of Phil (one who celebrated by fist-pumping in the streets as Mickleson clinched his 6th major victory), I might be biased. Shipnuck reads like a man who may have celebrated the (several) public disgraces of Mickelson in the same way.
If Shipnuck had really known- and had the trust of- his subject, would he have given this account? It’s impossible to know for sure- my guess is no.
5/5 for entertainment.
1/5 for being a non-fiction, good faith account of a man’s life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 13, 2024The first tournament that had a lasting “where were you moment” for me was watching the 2004 Masters. Fast forward to February 2022, and I remember hearing on the 10th hole at MPCC that Phil’s sponsors had dropped him.
In the years between those those two dichotomous events, Phil has been one of the most captivating characters in the game of golf. This book does an excellent job of balancing where Phil really cares about others, while showing his need to be proven right.
It’s well-balanced reflection in a world full of “hot takes” and Tweets that I’d recommend to golf sickos and casual fans alike.
In the years between those those two dichotomous events, Phil has been one of the most captivating characters in the game of golf. This book does an excellent job of balancing where Phil really cares about others, while showing his need to be proven right.
It’s well-balanced reflection in a world full of “hot takes” and Tweets that I’d recommend to golf sickos and casual fans alike.
June 17, 2022
(2 1/2). Can I give 3 stars to a non fiction book for its sensationalism and expose of behavior, good and bad? I guess I can. Although I am a major golf fanatic, I have never been a big Mickelson fan. But this book really chronicles his incredible talent and track record in a way I guess I never really imagined. It also tells the story of his many weaknesses as well. A truly befuddling character is revealed, all of which has been playing out on the sports page big time in the last month or so. It is a short but tasty read, one that will appeal to many sports fans, not just golfers. Pretty good stuff.
May 21, 2022
Fun read, not really a hit piece so much as a book that portrays Phil as occasionally mean spirited show off that sometimes gets in over his head, something that is consistent with the general media coverage Phil has received. Aside from the magnitude of Phil's betting obligations, no real revelations here for the casual golfing fan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2022
Alan Shipnuck conducted nearly two hundred interviews for this book (players, caddies, swing coaches, etc.). He only spoke to Phil Mickelson once for the book, and that one call has caused all sorts of problems for Mickelson (his comments about Saudi Arabia and the PGA Tour), which continue to this day.
The author writes that Mickelson, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, winner of six major championships and 45 PGA Tour wins, tied for eighth all-time, is an enigma. His fans adore “Lefty”, who responds to their cheers with a grin and a “thumbs up”. But his longtime caddy, Jim “Bones” Mackay (who Mickelson owed $900,000), stated “Nobody knows Phil Mickelson. Nobody. I spent twenty-five years standing next to the guy and he’s still a total mystery to me.”
In this book, the author shares both positives (how he has helped other players, his philanthropic work, his generosity with those in the service industry, and his random acts of kindness), and negatives (his ties with men of ill repute, his huge gambling debts - he had gambling losses totaling more than $40 million in the four-year period 2010–14) - and becoming involved in a messy insider-trading case) about Mickelson. The author tells us that the book is an attempt to reconcile the multitudes within Mickelson, and help us understand who the real Phil Mickelson is.
The book begins with Michelson physically confronting the author after the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club in Chicago. During that incident, Mickelson told the author “You think you know me, but you don’t.”
The author tells us that when Mickelson was nine years old, his father built a putting green in the backyard of their San Diego home. He writes that it was the creation of the backyard green that changed everything. Mickelson would spend hours on end hitting chip after pitch, usually alone, sometimes with his dad.
He would go on to be first-team All-American all four years at Arizona State University, and win the Haskins Award as the male college player of the year his final three years. Mickelson would make his PGA Tour debut, at seventeen.
Phil married Amy McBride in 1996, and the book paints their marriage and family life in a positive manner. The book spends a lot of time about the competition between Mickelson and Tiger Woods. Mickelson is portrayed by some as being a “know it all”, phony, and strident about PGA Tour politics.
I enjoyed the many stories about Mickelson from the people the author interviewed. The book, which will definitely tarnish Mickelson’s public image, does include a significant amount of adult language, oftentimes as it is quoting Mickelson.
The author writes that Mickelson, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, winner of six major championships and 45 PGA Tour wins, tied for eighth all-time, is an enigma. His fans adore “Lefty”, who responds to their cheers with a grin and a “thumbs up”. But his longtime caddy, Jim “Bones” Mackay (who Mickelson owed $900,000), stated “Nobody knows Phil Mickelson. Nobody. I spent twenty-five years standing next to the guy and he’s still a total mystery to me.”
In this book, the author shares both positives (how he has helped other players, his philanthropic work, his generosity with those in the service industry, and his random acts of kindness), and negatives (his ties with men of ill repute, his huge gambling debts - he had gambling losses totaling more than $40 million in the four-year period 2010–14) - and becoming involved in a messy insider-trading case) about Mickelson. The author tells us that the book is an attempt to reconcile the multitudes within Mickelson, and help us understand who the real Phil Mickelson is.
The book begins with Michelson physically confronting the author after the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club in Chicago. During that incident, Mickelson told the author “You think you know me, but you don’t.”
The author tells us that when Mickelson was nine years old, his father built a putting green in the backyard of their San Diego home. He writes that it was the creation of the backyard green that changed everything. Mickelson would spend hours on end hitting chip after pitch, usually alone, sometimes with his dad.
He would go on to be first-team All-American all four years at Arizona State University, and win the Haskins Award as the male college player of the year his final three years. Mickelson would make his PGA Tour debut, at seventeen.
Phil married Amy McBride in 1996, and the book paints their marriage and family life in a positive manner. The book spends a lot of time about the competition between Mickelson and Tiger Woods. Mickelson is portrayed by some as being a “know it all”, phony, and strident about PGA Tour politics.
I enjoyed the many stories about Mickelson from the people the author interviewed. The book, which will definitely tarnish Mickelson’s public image, does include a significant amount of adult language, oftentimes as it is quoting Mickelson.
October 28, 2025
Phil Mickelson is one of the most colorful professional golfers in history, inspiring levels of adoration and fury like very few can. A great golfer, competitor, friend, asshole, husband and champion, Mickelson’s biography at the hands of Shipnuck is found to be very impressive, as Shipnuck lays out a clear and honest picture of a man both in his good and his bad. This book is a true examination of Mickelson’s life and career, his successes and losses, and the relationships that have defined him. Although there are several moments in this book that criticize Mickelson, from the treatment of his long-time caddie to his gambling and investments to his treatment of reporters, Shipnuck also explores Mickelson’s generosity, dedication to his wife, and mentorship when he takes it on. This biography is honest, not trying to convince anyone of a specific point about Mickelson but rather presenting facts and allowing the reader to make their own decision about Mickelson. The only point where this book differs from this is in the new afterword, where Shipnuck makes clear his struggling relationship with Mickelson, and his distaste for the characters of the LIV Golf tour. But all in all, this is an easy to read, quick and worthwhile biography of a golfer with a legacy like none-other.
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