In sports, bold predictions are part of the game.
But sometimes, those hot takes age about as well as milk left out in the sun—and Phil Mickelson just got a taste of that reality.
Earlier this year, he made a rather confident call about PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler, and now, after another Scheffler victory, fans aren’t letting him forget it.
Mickelson Doubted Scheffler’s 2025 Success
Back in March, Mickelson stirred the pot when he went public with his opinion that LIV Golf’s Joaquín Niemann ranked higher in his book than the PGA’s top dog, Scottie Scheffler.
And he didn’t stop there—he took things up a notch with a bold forecast.
“Here’s a hot take,” Mickelson wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Does Scottie win in 2025 before the Ryder Cup? I don’t think so.”
At the time, it seemed like typical sports banter.
But golf fans have long memories, especially when a prediction backfires in spectacular fashion.
Scheffler Dominates and Proves the Doubters Wrong
Fast forward a few months, and Scottie Scheffler has not only won again—he’s won twice.
His most recent victory came in spectacular fashion at Portrush, Northern Ireland, where he finished 17-under and beat Harris English by four strokes.
That win marked his 17th career PGA Tour title and fourth since May.
Scheffler’s Sunday performance—shooting a 3-under-par 68—left no doubt about his place among golf’s elite.
The 29-year-old is on a run that has even his peers talking in awe.
Praise Pours in From Fellow Golf Stars
After the win, Xander Schauffele compared Scheffler’s recent performances to none other than Tiger Woods, saying, “He’s doing some Tiger-like stuff.”
That’s about as high a compliment as one can get in professional golf.
Rory McIlroy, who hails from Northern Ireland and has had a front-row seat to many of Scheffler’s recent showings, was just as enthusiastic.
“In a historical context, you could argue that there are only maybe two or three players in the history of the game who’ve had a run like this over 24 to 36 months,” McIlroy remarked.
Mickelson Offers Congratulations—But Fans Don’t Forget
To his credit, Mickelson didn’t double down on his March comments.
Instead, he responded with class, congratulating Scheffler online.
“Congrats to Scottie Scheffler on another impressive victory. So many iron shots were amazing and what a putting performance,” he posted.
But that didn’t stop fans from poking fun at the six-time major winner.
Some quoted his old tweet directly, asking, “But I thought he wasn’t going to win another one this year?”
Others added sarcasm: “If he keeps this up, he might even challenge Joaquin Niemann as the best golfer on Earth.”
A few replies even veered into personal digs, referencing Mickelson’s well-documented gambling issues.
Still, most of the feedback was more teasing than mean-spirited, with fans joking, “Phil’s got some explaining to do.”
Where Does Mickelson Go From Here?
Mickelson himself wrapped up The Open Championship tied for 56th place with a final score of +1—not exactly a banner finish.
Since his high-profile departure from the PGA Tour in 2022 to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league, he’s found himself at the center of many golf-related controversies, including the ongoing merger discussions between the two tours.
Although his competitive edge may have dulled, his opinions still stir reactions—sometimes more than his swings.
Final Thoughts
It’s clear that Scottie Scheffler is on a historic roll, and no amount of skepticism—hot take or not—can slow him down.
As for Phil, he might think twice before making predictions that involve the current king of PGA dominance.
So, what’s next?
If Scheffler keeps up this pace, we could be watching one of the greatest stretches of golf in recent memory.
And as for Mickelson, maybe his next “hot take” will come with a side of caution.