Let's call it the Phil Effect.
Not since the days when Tiger was stalking the Kapalua Plantation Course has there been a Thursday crowd like there was for this week's opening round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions. For the first time in 21 years, fan favorite Phil Mickelson was back on Maui playing in the winners-only PGA Tour event. His star power has taken the $8.2 million tourney to another level in terms of fan interest and television viewership.
Golf fans crowded around the practice green to watch him warm up and the first tee to watch him tee off Thursday. Some hung around to see young stars like Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele start their rounds, but by the time the final pairing of the day, defending champion Harris English and Patrick Cantlay, teed off, the stands were nearly empty.
Where did everybody go? They weren't shopping at Honolua Store. The lion's share was trooping around the hilly Plantation Course, trying to keep pace with Mickelson. The player known as "Lefty" treaded water for the first 13 holes before carding three birdies late to post a two-under-par 71 that left him six shots behind the leader, but still in the hunt with three rounds to go. If Mickelson is at or near the top of the leaderboard on Sunday there is no telling what the crowds will be like.
Organizers would normally be thrilled by such a turnout. The fly in their ointment is the tourney is being held in the middle of a pandemic that saw more than 700 positive cases reported on Maui Thursday and almost nobody packed in tight watching Mickelson and the others was wearing a mask. Starting Friday, the tournament posted signage that encouraged spectators to mask up when they could not socially distance on the course and around the greens.
Mickelson himself showed he takes the airborne disease very seriously when he finished his pro-am round Wednesday. There is always a large crowd of autograph hounds waiting for Phil when he finishes a round, especially after a pro-am when he has been known to stand and sign until everybody gets their flag or cap or scrap of paper autographed.
On Wednesday, PGA Tour officials told the crowd gathered by the ninth green that everyone had to put on their masks. "He will not sign if you are not wearing a mask," they said. They also cautioned people to keep their distance and to not reach out to Lefty as he made his way down the line. Mickelson wore a tight-fitting KN95 mask and has his hand wipes at the ready.
If you're headed out to the course this weekend and wondering whether you should wear a mask, ask yourself, "What would Phil do?"
