It’s the moment golf’s social media fans have all been waiting for and the trash-talking has already begun
It came with no warning whatsoever. It was totally unexpected. That’s right – Phil Mickelson is on Twitter.
Yes you read that correctly. The Phil Mickelson. The man with the most famous thumbs up in golf are about to put those thumbs to new use.
Lefty officially signed up on Wednesday and delighted the entire golfing world with his maiden dip in the social-media pond. And he only went and kicked things off with the most famous Phil Mickelson GIF of all-time…
I got this @Twitter thing down pic.twitter.com/gUx8XjNrez
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 22, 2018
Everyone who uses social media will know the GIF – which shows Phil winking at the camera during the Presidents Cup – and it sent us into meltdown…
Phil's on Twitter! #BestDayEver pic.twitter.com/cc6HotXSzf
— Jake Weaver (@Golfer_Jake_78) August 22, 2018
Phil Mickelson getting a Twitter account a month before the Ryder Cup is at least one of my media wishes granted, perhaps, by a genie. pic.twitter.com/V2H3fFZuuZ
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) August 22, 2018
Phil Mickelson Has Joined Twitter So Get Ready For Dad Jokes https://t.co/4Ce2Up1fXF pic.twitter.com/nQawHU6wur
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) August 22, 2018
The news was so unexpected even his family weren’t in the know…
I guess anything is possible! Phil’s officially on Twitter. Go give him a follow @PhilMickelson
— Tim Mickelson (@goodwalkspoiled) August 22, 2018
Apparently it's -32° in Hell and pigs can fly because my bro is now on Twitter.Give him a follow @philmickelson
— Tina Mickelson (@TinaMickelson) August 22, 2018
Within an hour of the first tweet landing, the 43-time PGA Tour winner had more 20,000 followers and 5,000 likes on his ice-breaker.
Just six hours later and we had our next instalment. “THE MATCH” had officially landed.
Tiger Woods announced that the multi-million matchup against Mickelson was ‘on’ and set for Thanksgiving weekend. Phil, with his newly found online-confidence, went for the thread and the trash-talking began.
It’s on @PhilMickelson #TigerVSPhil pic.twitter.com/PZivYPOEf5
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) August 22, 2018
Think you will earn some bragging rights? ?
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) August 22, 2018
Mickelson, with his fresh 70,000 followers, seems a social media pro already and just 11 hours into his Twitter debut, was pulling out the meme’s..
@TigerWoods I see you have a left-handed driver, well played. I hope it's a Callaway pic.twitter.com/qWuXsGVC6z
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 22, 2018
However, if the Shadow Creek showdown was played out on Twitter followers, Tiger would win by 6,290,000, compared to Phil’s 70,900. Along with plenty of other grudges.
But what’s next for Lefty? Facebook? Instagram? SNAPCHAT? All we know is that the actual match-play event is set to be glorious.