Alan Shipnuck
Longtime Sports Illustrated reporter and bestselling author Alan Shipnuck has written a spicy and rollicking biography of famed golf player Phil Mickelson, who has led a huge, turbulent life.Phil Mickelson is one of sports’ most captivating figures. He has been among the finest golfers in the world for more than three decades, and his remarkable longevity was demonstrated at the 2021 PGA Tournament, when Mickelson, on the verge of turning fifty-one, became the oldest player in major championship history.Alan Shipnuck recounts a unique life marked by spectacular successes, terrible failures, and innumerable controversies in this unvarnished, unedited, and unapproved biography. Mickelson is a complex character, and these pages reveal all of his conflicting impulses: He’s a shrewd businessman who created a fortune by being a polished professional; a devoted husband tormented by rumors; and a high-stakes gambler who knows the house always wins but can’t seem to get away from it.The contrast between Mickelson and his lifelong nemesis, Tiger Woods, has defined his career and public image. Whereas Woods is reserved and robotic, Mickelson is outgoing and outgoing, an incorrigible showman who many fans adore and others despise because to his massive personality. Mickelson lacked Tiger’s laser concentration and discipline in their early years on the Tour, prompting Tida Woods to call her son’s challenger 'the chubby boy,' among other insults. Despite Tiger’s career being cut short by controversy, drugs, and a damaged body, Phil continues to remain relevant on the golf course and in business.Phil is the ideal combination of topic and author. Shipnuck has a reputation for being the most fearless writer on the golf beat, and he delivers numerous revelations, ranging from the true scale of Mickelson’s massive gambling losses to the inside story of Phil and his longtime caddie, Jim 'Bones' Mackay’s acrimonious breakup to the secretive backstory of the Saudi golf league that Mickelson championed to use as leverage against the PGA Tour. Phil, on the other hand, praises Mickelson’s random acts of kindness and generosity of spirit, which have been witnessed by friends and strangers alike. Shipnuck has covered Mickelson throughout his career and has been present at some of his most memorable wins and blunders, allowing him to transport readers inside the ropes with a thrilling immediacy and intimacy. The result is the most exciting and entertaining golf book in years,
