Australia’s Ryan Peake is one of the most interesting men in the field at this year’s Open Championship. As documented by Golf Digest’s Joel Beall and Evin Priest earlier this month, the 31-year-old has undergone an incredible journey from an Australian prison, where he served five years for assault stemming from his affiliation with a biker gang, to the champion of the New Zealand Open.
Now he’s competing against the best of the world at Royal Portrush, but though his story is almost larger than life, it was Peake who was in awe on Thursday in the presence of his first-round partner: Phil Mickelson.
According to Peake, Mickelson was his hero growing up, and it’s a testament to the American’s longevity that Peake’s young son also idolises him. So it’s no surprise that when Mickelson introduced himself by name on the first tee, Peake’s reaction was the equivalent of, no kidding.
“I don’t think he needs to introduce himself,” Peaked joked. “I was well aware of who he was.”
It was a nervous moment for Peake, and not just because of Phil. This was his first major, and he was disappointed with his opening round 77, a score that will make it plenty for him to stay through the weekend. He made an impressive birdie on the long par-3 16th, one of the longest holes on the course, but otherwise he characterised his round as “pretty flat.”
But he did get to chat with Mickelson throughout, and even tested his putter a few times. And when it was over, he saw Phil’s caddie Jon Yarbrough giving out signed golf balls.
“What about me?” he yelled.
Yarbrough laughed, but Peake wasn’t laughing.
“He thought I was being sarcastic,” the Aussie said. “And he said, ‘Are you serious?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m deadly serious.’ I said, ‘Can you sign a glove as well?’
He got his ball, and he got his glove, which was always part of the plan – he wasn’t going to ask Mickelson beforehand, but he didn’t squander his opportunity after. He’ll spend Friday trying to make the cut, and he’s competitive enough that he’ll be seriously disappointed if he fails, but one way or another, he’s at least secured a lasting memory for himself with one of the icons of the sport.
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