Why the golf world is going nuts over this photo
The PGA Tour has introduced a new rule allowing players to wear shorts during pro-ams and practice rounds.
And the new rule, announced on Monday, has already had some bizarre results.
As a result, Phil Mickelson’s calves are trending on social media.
Thanks to the PGA Tour allowing shorts in the lead up to this week’s WGC-Mexico Championship, everyone has bared witness to the surprising size of the calves on ‘Lefty’.
The @PGATOUR just announced that shorts are allowed for pro-am and practice rounds. Word is they saw my Insta-structionals in shorts and felt this move needed to happen. Well played, Sir. Well played!😎 pic.twitter.com/vGCM36EoEF
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) February 18, 2019
The American great tweeted a photo of himself practicing in shorts, and the golf world immediately went wild.
The internet is buzzing about Phil’s bulky legs. Here are some of the hilarious takes:
Phil, they’re gorgeous calves.
— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) February 18, 2019
Turns out Phil Mickelson is actually that custom-calves guy from the Liberty Mutual commercial pic.twitter.com/j3ew7lc8Di
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) February 18, 2019
Decent calf game there 👍🏻
— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) February 18, 2019
Phil Mickelson has the calves that Johnny Drama always wanted @ForePlayPod pic.twitter.com/d68AVWNtYj
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 18, 2019
Phil has competition! pic.twitter.com/EXYVtJ12op
— Todd Kirke (@tkirkeDSM) February 19, 2019
Phil’s calves during tournament play pic.twitter.com/ZBp8PNl5bH
— David Ruff (@dcarterruff) February 18, 2019
@samplys I bet he can crush pop cans between those calves😱
— TrevorD (@trevor_deroche) February 18, 2019
— Jerry Lou (@JerryLouLooper1) February 18, 2019
Not to mention the reaction that shorts are actually allowed now.
Love it!!! https://t.co/P3HMfLkjX9
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) February 18, 2019
Love the move by @PGATOUR to allow shorts in practice rounds and pro-ams. Time to work on the leg tan! Good thing it’s 80 deg at home.
— Ryan Blaum (@RBlaumGolf) February 18, 2019
SHORTS!!!!!! FREAKING YES!!!!!!!!!!!
— Emiliano Grillo (@GrilloEmiliano) February 18, 2019
Is this real life?
— Patton Kizzire (@pkizzire) February 18, 2019
About time
The move comes after Aussie great Karrie Webb said “intimidating” club rules risk the future of the sport.
Webb still remembers, as a teenager, having to pick at the hem to lengthen her golf shorts to comply with one of many stickling rules at golf clubs.
“It can be a very intimidating place for young boys and girls,” Webb told reporters last week in Adelaide.
“They have got club rules – tuck your shirt in, take your hat off in the clubhouse, that sort of stuff.
“I think we have to soften a little bit in golf to encourage kids to play … golf needs to get out of these traditions.
“I grew up in north Queensland so I didn’t see a lot of that until I started travelling away and playing in the bigger cities.
“(I) had to unpick the length of my hems so my shorts were long enough one day … all those things need to go out the window and we need to modernise.”
with AAP