Sometimes, when you go all-in on a hot take, it comes back to haunt you — and that’s exactly what’s happened to Phil Mickelson.
Back in March, the six-time major winner cast doubt on PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler, predicting a dry 2025 season for the world No. 1.
But fast forward to July, and Scheffler has not only proven Mickelson wrong — he’s done it in spectacular fashion.
The Original “Hot Take” That Sparked It All
It all started with a post on X (formerly Twitter) when Mickelson questioned whether Scheffler would win any tournament before the Ryder Cup.
Instead, Mickelson backed LIV Golf’s Joaquín Niemann as the superior player.
“Here’s a hot take,” Phil wrote back in March.
“Does Scottie win in 2025 before the Ryder Cup? I don’t think so.”
Well… fast forward just a few months, and Scheffler has already secured two major titles this year — including a dominant win at The Open in Portrush, Northern Ireland, where he beat Harris English by four strokes at an impressive 17-under-par.
Mickelson Takes the High Road — But Fans Don’t Let It Slide
After Scheffler’s win on Sunday, Mickelson took to social media again, this time offering congratulations.
“Congrats to Scottie Scheffler on another impressive victory,” he wrote.
“So many iron shots were amazing and what a putting performance.”
But the internet never forgets.
Fans quickly flooded the replies, playfully reminding Mickelson of his earlier prediction.
One user joked, “But I thought he wasn’t going to win another one this year?” Another quipped, “If he keeps this up, he might actually be as good as Joaquín Niemann someday.”
Social Media Reacts With Jabs and Jokes
While some of the replies were light-hearted, others took a harsher tone — some even dragging Mickelson’s past gambling issues into the mix.
Still, the overall mood was more about poking fun than tearing down.
As one fan summed it up with a wink: “Phil’s got some explaining to do about that tweet.”
Scheffler’s Numbers Keep Climbing
The 29-year-old Scheffler is in elite company right now.
His latest win marked his 17th career PGA Tour victory — and his fourth since May.
On Sunday, he shot a 3-under-par 68, wrapping up yet another major with his trademark calm and precision.
Even his fellow competitors are starting to view his run as historic.
Xander Schauffele commented, “He’s doing some Tiger-like stuff.”
Rory McIlroy Weighs In With Big Praise
Rory McIlroy, who knows a thing or two about championship runs, was quick to put Scheffler’s form into perspective.
“You could argue there are maybe only two or three players in the history of the game who’ve had a stretch like Scottie’s had over the last two or three years,” McIlroy said.
“It’s incredibly impressive.”
Meanwhile, Mickelson Finishes Well Behind
While Scheffler was lifting the trophy in Northern Ireland, Mickelson’s weekend wasn’t quite as bright.
He wrapped up The Open tied for 56th place, finishing +1 for the tournament.
Mickelson, of course, has been playing on the rival LIV Golf tour since his highly publicized departure from the PGA Tour in 2022.
Since then, he’s become a central figure in the complicated merger talks between the two tours.
No Bad Blood, Just a Bad Bet
To Mickelson’s credit, he didn’t try to walk back his earlier statement — and his sportsmanlike congratulatory post shows he can take a little ribbing.
But one thing’s for sure: Scottie Scheffler isn’t slowing down — and every tournament win just makes that March prediction look even more off the mark.
In the end, it’s all part of the game. Trash talk, bold bets, and sweet victories — golf fans wouldn’t have it any other way.