Mickelson inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame

The World Golf Hall of Fame made a few more inductions last night and there were some recollections and comments made that are worth sharing.

Golfers Phil Mickelson, Sandy Lyle and Hollis Stacy were inducted to the World golf Hall of Fame last night. Phil Mickelson seems to be getting funnier and funnier and thanked the fans with this in his acceptance speech:

“I want to thank the fans. This has been a fun run because of them. I’ve tried to reciprocate by launching drive after drive at them.”

Two-time major winner Lyle (The Open Championship, 1985 and US Masters, 1988) was inducted and in his speech he recalled  a no famous line when he was first asked about a young up and coming golfer by the name of Tiger Woods.

And another little occasion when I was in Los Angeles when Tiger Woods played at the Riviera Club, and I got asked by a very impatient sort of film crew, I’d just finished second in the tournament, and then I was asked with this microphone in my mouth with the cameras rolling what do you think of Tiger Woods.  So I very quickly replied, thinking I don’t think I’ve played that golf course before.

Legendary golf commentator Peter Allis ended his speech by giving the middle finger to his former, and now departed headmistress. Golf writer Dan Jenkins was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame with the usual amount of hilarity and insights.

He is one of the greatest, most wittiest golf writers of our time who is known for brining humour into golf writing (now prolific and worth following on Twitter). For example, I was reminded of this little beauty when Ian Baker-Finch began his slow slide into the golfing wilderness during The Open Championship one year:

“Baker-Finch went out in 44 and back in 48, which sounds a little like someone’s World War II service record.”

If you want to read more stuff from Dan Jenkins, check out Ron Sirak’s article on him as well as this little summary by Jerry Tarde.

One last thing. Luke Elvy was at the event and tweeted a little quiz question before the ceremony began:

I did this story last year… There’s 5 Australian’s @GolfHallofFame, can you name them? #noprizes 🙁