[PHOTO: Harry How]
After eight years as a duo, Phil Mickelson announced on Tuesday that his brother Tim Mickelson will be retiring from caddieing. Tim, who is seven years Phil’s junior, was on the bag for his brother’s WGC–Mexico win in 2018, his AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am victory in 2019 and his sixth major championship at the 2021 PGA at Kiawah Island.
“I’ve had some great accomplishments in my career and getting to share them with my brother Tim has been beyond special,” Mickelson wrote on Instagram. “I’m very lucky to have had him on the bag for me the past eight years and as my brother for life.”
Tim first began looping for Lefty in 2017 when, after 25 years together, it was announced that Mickelson and longtime caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay had mutually agreed to part ways. Tim has been on the bag ever since, an eight-year period that has included a number of highs and lows as well as Mickelson’s most controversial career move to date in jumping to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League.
Prior to moving to Phil’s bag full-time, Tim was a successful college golf coach at both the University of San Diego and Arizona State University, he and Phil’s alma mater. At ASU, Tim coached reigning Masters winner Jon Rahm and eventually served as Rahm’s manager for a brief stint before Phil asked him to be his caddie. As a single 40-year-old hoping to soon start a family, Tim admitted it was a very difficult decision at the time.
“The biggest thing is, it’s family,” Tim said as the PGA Tour opened its season in 2018. “I thought it would be neat to be out here more, to spend more time with my brother. And, indirectly, I’m going to end up spending more time with everyone else in my family.”
As Phil wrote on Instagram, Tim now has a family of his own that “hopefully will continue to grow”.
“I’ll always cherish the many great moments we’ve shared on the course,” Phil added. “And I look forward to many more special moments off the course too.”
