Brendan Steele says Phil Mickelson was a “big reason” for his victory at LIV Golf Adelaide, as the 41-year-old American won for the first time in more than six years.
Steele claimed a one-shot victory over Louis Oosthuizen at the Grange Golf Club thanks to a four-under 68 in the final round.
The three-time PGA Tour winner, who joined LIV in 2023, last won in October 2017 at the then-titled Safeway Open.
Speaking to media after clinching his win and the $4 million check, Steele opened up about his close relationship with Mickelson, saying he relies on the HyFlyers GC captain for advice on both his golf and mental game.
“I lean on Phil pretty hard with everything, with how to hit shots around the green, how to approach things,” he said. “He’s one of the best players ever, and he can give me advice. If he’s going to give me advice, I’m going to take it.
“I definitely want to listen to him, and he’s helped me a ton with everything from wedge play, short game, mental game. Just instilling confidence in myself, and he’s a big reason I’m sitting up here.”
Steele claimed the 36-hole lead heading into the final day thanks to rounds of 66 and 64. However, the nerves started to hit as he looked to return to the winners’ circle once again.
“I’m pretty nervous all the time. I think that’s just my DNA,” he said. “I really want to play well all the time, so it was about kind of overcoming that and trying to be as free as I could be, and I felt great with how I executed, even despite being very nervous.”
Steele revealed a conversation he had with Mickelson prior to the final round, which “reframed” his mindset and ultimately helped him shake off the jitters.
“He was like, ‘How are you feeling? What are you thinking?’ I said, ‘Well, if I can play freely like I did the last couple days, I feel like I’ll have a good chance.’ He’s like, ‘That’s great. Let’s reframe it. Let’s make it when I play freely, I can play freely, I will play freely. Let’s reframe it into that.’
“I was saying, ‘And then I think it’ll be good enough.’ He’s like, ‘No, it will be good enough, you will play freely. This is what you need to do.’ So that was what I was trying to do.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Steele admitted the nerves reached a fever pitch on the 18th…
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