review of Alan Shipnuck's new book "Phil"

[@_the_crook]

7 hours ago, miamistomp said:

 The OG with codeine was awesome

  We used to take a shot with a cherry soda or root beer back in high school

+1 for the Cherry soda.

+2 if the Root Beer came from A&W and you got some fries.

 

 

[tacklingdummy]

5 hours ago, golfgirlrobin said:

The actual evidence in this case is the lack of action by Phil and his lawyers. Accusing someone of cheating employees is defamation if it’s not true. Publishers don’t take that risk without receipts. There was no cease and desist letter from Phil’s lawyers to the publishing house, there’s been no defamation suit filed since publication, there hasn’t even been a generalized “don’t believe everything you read” response.
 

I wouldn’t consider Bones’ classy response to this, his keeping his mouth shut, as evidence that it’s not true. He and his wife are very close to Amy and the kids and they’re not going to make their lives more difficult or more public. 
 

 

 

Obviously, it could be defamation or not. Everyone is still just speculating. It is still really early to determine because there still there does not seem to be any hard evidence that totally confirms those claims of Phil stiffing Bones.  Perhaps Phil and his lawyers have not fully digested any of the claims in the book.  Maybe Phil might release a statement telling his side of the story or refuting any of the claims.  Who knows? However, I doubt Phil would pursue any legal action because it would likely be a losing battle and only the lawyers would be winning.

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

12 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Anybody know what point on this the bones story comes up?  Would be much appreciated to be able to skip most of this to find it. 

Bones = Around the ~40min Timestamp 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2022 by JungleJimbo

[Greg_B]

13 minutes ago, tacklingdummy said:

 

Obviously, it could be defamation or not. Everyone is still just speculating. It is still really early to determine because there still there does not seem to be any hard evidence that totally confirms those claims of Phil stiffing Bones.  Perhaps Phil and his lawyers have not fully digested any of the claims in the book.  Maybe Phil might release a statement telling his side of the story or refuting any of the claims.  Who knows? However, I doubt Phil would pursue any legal action because it would likely be a losing battle and only the lawyers would be winning.

 

 

Shipnuck may have his flaws, but he is no dummy, and he is not the National Enquirer. Simon and Schuster have battalions of lawyers reviewing everything they are planning to publish well before the fact. The Bones story has been vetted to their satisfaction.  
 

The best thing you can do when you find yourself stuck in a hole is to stop digging.

[miamistomp]

23 minutes ago, @_the_crook said:

+1 for the Cherry soda.

+2 if the Root Beer came from A&W and you got some fries.

 

 

 A&W or Hires ( the local brand)

  Food of choice was a South Philly soft pretzel

[tacklingdummy]

35 minutes ago, Greg_B said:

Shipnuck may have his flaws, but he is no dummy, and he is not the National Enquirer. Simon and Schuster have battalions of lawyers reviewing everything they are planning to publish well before the fact. The Bones story has been vetted to their satisfaction.  
 

The best thing you can do when you find yourself stuck in a hole is to stop digging.

 

I think ya'all  are the ones that need to stop digging deeper in a hole. From the Golfweek article, it still looks like Shipnuck and everyone else is still speculating on the Bones-Phil backpay claims as there is no real hard evidence to legitimize the claims. If you have evidence, post it. I have no problem with hard evidence/facts proving my opinions wrong, but there hasn't been any. 

 

Quote from Golfweek's article. "Book review: Alan Shipnuck presents the good and bad sides of Phil Mickelson and lets the reader decide"

 

"While the juiciest material already has been squeezed out and released in excerpts, this book has plenty of juice. I’m still not convinced Shipnuck got to the bottom of the parting of Phil and Bones after 25 years together, but at least Shipnuck called as he put it, “B.S.” and advanced the story with a more plausible reason. It’s a second-hand quote – as Bones didn’t participate directly in the book either – but this shot from Bones is telling nonetheless."

 

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/05/16/phil-mickelson-book-review-alan-shipnuck-biography/

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2022 by tacklingdummy

[CasualLie]

SPOILER ALERT - Do not read this if you want to dig through the book yourself and looking to preserve some surprises.

 

Now that I said that, newsflash, there are no surprises.  All the "juice" was pre-released, so in the book not only is the so called scandalous stuff already revealed weeks ago, the book does not add any depth to those stories.

 

239 pages, took me ~ 4 hours to read.  That's including time to make cocktails.

 

Biggest takeaway at the end... Phil is sitting out PGA Championship because of this????  WTF?  I hope not, the book really isn't damaging enough for that!

 

The three "headliner" stories on the negative side are the LIV stuff, apparently owing Bones $100K, and gambling debts.  Here's my takeaway on the three based on the book.

 

Bones story - There is a lot we do not know and I'm very sure we will never know.  Without Bones quoting directly the story is pretty much gossip.  And I think there's a reason Bones is not on record, in part because he might be an idiot.  The gossip is Phil made some kind of commitment to compensate Bones for the FedEx Cup payout.  Somehow Bones thought this should be $900K.  I say "somehow" because we do not know what was the agreement and if it was in writing.  Keep this in mind, literally the details shared in the book are a couple of paragraphs.  It's the absence of information that speaks volumes.  Anyway, Phil paid $800K (400k then later $400k).  So apparently he stiffed Bones $100k.  Obviously there is some kind of dispute/disagreement over what is owed, but who is right?  

 

With such a lack of detail, Shipnuck is an a hole putting that in the book.

 

Gambling debts - literally, a paragraph in the book with Shipnuck sourcing unnamed person, not even naming their "role" who had access to investigation notes on Phil and it's their estimate they saw $40M in losses.  That's it.  We don't know if that's net losses, how many years...we do not even know if the person's estimate is even accurate.  We know nothing, maybe a little more than gossip, but it is far from substantiated.  We do know Phil paid Walters gambling debts.  But how often?  It came across to me that it was around $1M - $2M every now and then, like maybe 3 or 4 times per year? Maybe less?  Phil was making $50M+ per year for several years, who cares if he lost a few mil gambling.  Amy didn't care. I doubt Phil is down net $40M in gambling and even if he was, he can afford it.

 

LIV - this is the part of the book that ticks me off because it's sloppy writing.  I'm not going to take the time to piece together what Shipnuck said and when in relation to why release the quotes and delayed book release because of Covid, but it smells like b.s. to me.  Clearly, the last chapter of the book was re-written very recently to recapture all the same garbage we all heard in the news.  And nothing extra in the book.  If the book was "done" earlier, then why am I reading Rory's quote from late February?

 

So that's the negative side... But here's the kicker, is such a small part of the book.  I'm not even sure who this book is written for.  The Phil fanatic who wants too re-live shot by shot Phil's first Masters win?  The Phil hater who wants to read about every Phil US Open shortfall?  Anyone who was a regular golf viewer the last 20 years already knows 90% of this book.  And Shipnuck's core premise, who is the real Phil, is so stupid.  He acts like he's so fascinated about the multiple sides of Phil and he's such an enigma, oh!  We need a book to decipher Phil.  Guess what?  Phil really is not that complicated at all and the book clearly shows that while still trying to claim we can't figure him out!

 

First 2/3 of the book is 90% pro Phil with the only "negatives" being the trash talking and it took him a long time to win his first major.  The last 1/3 off the book is still 80% pro Phil it just mixes in those other negatives.  Sure, sprinkled in are quotes from other players on the negative side, but it's pretty tame, and there are a lot more positive quotes.

 

Looking back now I see.  The book was on track to be a fairly boring release, but Phil gave it life when he was trash talking the PGA Tour talking nonsense about media rights, then Shipnuck remembered he had that recording of Phil trash talking the Saudis and leveraging LIV... Then all of the sudden the book has life, release a quote, re-write chapter 18, and make a little more money.

 

Overall, the book is boring, maybe three good one-liners, and soon it will be forgotten.

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2022 by CasualLie

[bladehunter]

7 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

Bones = Around the ~40min Timestamp 

 

 

Thanks.   
 

So it is likely true then.   I really don’t like people who don’t take care of their help.  Reminds me of an old farmers saying.  “ you feed the horses , mules and oxen before you feed yourself “.  
 

that being said.  In all this mention of this incident in 2 threads , why has nobody said that he has indeed paid bones $800k of the $900k ?? That doesn’t  erase it. At all. But it’s kind of hilarious that this was made such a big thing of , and no context given.  The context is this. 
 

the early fedex payments to the players were deferred to their pension fund.  So players didn’t get the $10 million until after they retired.  So that means Phil would  have to come up with the caddies cash out of pocket.  Now I agree that he should be able to do it , and should have moved heaven and earth to do it.  BUT , there’s actual legitimate context as to why he didn’t automatically pay right away.  In all this podcast regurgitation, why has this not been mentioned ? 

Edited May 18, 2022 by bladehunter

[bscinstnct]

2 hours ago, CasualLie said:

SPOILER ALERT - Do not read this if you want to dig through the book yourself and looking to preserve some surprises.

 

Now that I said that, newsflash, there are no surprises.  All the "juice" was pre-released, so in the book not only is the so called scandalous stuff already revealed weeks ago, the book does not add any depth to those stories.

 

239 pages, took me ~ 4 hours to read.  That's including time to make cocktails.

 

Biggest takeaway at the end... Phil is sitting out PGA Championship because of this????  WTF?  I hope not, the book really isn't damaging enough for that!

 

The three "headliner" stories on the negative side are the LIV stuff, apparently owing Bones $400K, and gambling debts.  Here's my takeaway on the three based on the book.

 

Bones story - There is a lot we do not know and I'm very sure we will never know.  Without Bones quoting directly the story is pretty much gossip.  And I think there's a reason Bones is not on record, in part because he might be an idiot.  The gossip is Phil made some kind of commitment to compensate Bones for the FedEx Cup payout.  Somehow Bones thought this should be $900K.  I say "somehow" because we do not know what was the agreement and if it was in writing.  Keep this in mind, literally the details shared in the book are a couple of paragraphs.  It's the absence of information that speaks volumes.  Anyway, Phil paid $500K.  So apparently he stiffed Bones $400k.  Obviously there is some kind of dispute/disagreement over what is owed, but who is right?  

 

With such a lack of detail, Shipnuck is an a hole putting that in the book.

 

Gambling debts - literally, a paragraph in the book with Shipnuck sourcing unnamed person, not even naming their "role" who had access to investigation notes on Phil and it's their estimate they saw $40M in losses.  That's it.  We don't know if that's net losses, how many years...we do not even know if the person's estimate is even accurate.  We know nothing, maybe a little more than gossip, but it is far from substantiated.  We do know Phil paid Walters gambling debts.  But how often?  It came across to me that it was around $1M - $2M every now and then, like maybe 3 or 4 times per year? Maybe less?  Phil was making $50M+ per year for several years, who cares if he lost a few mil gambling.  Amy didn't care. I doubt Phil is down net $40M in gambling and even if he was, he can afford it.

 

LIV - this is the part of the book that ticks me off because it's sloppy writing.  I'm not going to take the time to piece together what Shipnuck said and when in relation to why release the quotes and delayed book release because of Covid, but it smells like b.s. to me.  Clearly, the last chapter of the book was re-written very recently to recapture all the same garbage we all heard in the news.  And nothing extra in the book.  If the book was "done" earlier, then why am I reading Rory's quote from late February?

 

So that's the negative side... But here's the kicker, is such a small part of the book.  I'm not even sure who this book is written for.  The Phil fanatic who wants too re-live shot by shot Phil's first Masters win?  The Phil hater who wants to read about every Phil US Open shortfall?  Anyone who was a regular golf viewer the last 20 years already knows 90% of this book.  And Shipnuck's core premise, who is the real Phil, is so stupid.  He acts like he's so fascinated about the multiple sides of Phil and he's such an enigma, oh!  We need a book to decipher Phil.  Guess what?  Phil really is not that complicated at all and the book clearly shows that while still trying to claim we can't figure him out!

 

First 2/3 of the book is 90% pro Phil with the only "negatives" being the trash talking and it took him a long time to win his first major.  The last 1/3 off the book is still 80% pro Phil it just mixes in those other negatives.  Sure, sprinkled in are quotes from other players on the negative side, but it's pretty tame, and there are a lot more positive quotes.

 

Looking back now I see.  The book was on track to be a fairly boring release, but Phil gave it life when he was trash talking the PGA Tour talking nonsense about media rights, then Shipnuck remembered he had that recording of Phil trash talking the Saudis and leveraging LIV... Then all of the sudden the book has life, release a quote, re-write chapter 18, and make a little more money.

 

Overall, the book is boring, maybe three good one-liners, and soon it will be forgotten.

 

 

 

 

“Anyway, Phil paid $500K.  So apparently he stiffed Bones $400k. “

 

And Do fedex winners always pay 10% to caddies. I’m thinking they may not. 
 

Great review! 
 

Yes, Phil himself stoked the flame on this. If he hadn’t made that call to AS he’d be teeing it up right now. 
 

 

[Ghost of Snead]

26 minutes ago, bladehunter said:

Thanks.   
 

So it is likely true then.   I really don’t like people who don’t take care of their help.  Reminds me of an old farmers saying.  “ you feed the horses , mules and oxen before you feed yourself “.  
 

that being said.  In all this mention of this incident in 2 threads , why has nobody said that he has indeed paid bones $800k of the $900k ?? That doesn’t  erase it. At all. But it’s kind of hilarious that this was made such a big thing of , and no context given.  The context is this. 
 

the early fedex payments to the players were deferred to their pension fund.  So players didn’t get the $10 million until after they retired.  So that means Phil would  have to come up with the caddies cash out of pocket.  Now I agree that he should be able to do it , and should have moved heaven and earth to do it.  BUT , there’s actual legitimate context as to why he didn’t automatically pay right away.  In all this podcast regurgitation, why has this not been mentioned ? 

 

Why wouldn't Bones have had the Fed Ex cup payout written into his contract ? 

 

And Bones is at the PGA this week with Thomas - has anyone from TGC or the media asked him for his side ? 

   

Edited May 18, 2022 by Ghost of Snead

[bladehunter]

Just now, Ghost of Snead said:

 

Why wouldn't Bones have had the Fed Ex cup payout written into his contract ? 

Good question.  No idea.  I have no clue the level of contract due diligence caddies have.  Especially those who started for a player 25 years ago.  

[bladehunter]

2 hours ago, CasualLie said:

SPOILER ALERT - Do not read this if you want to dig through the book yourself and looking to preserve some surprises.

 

Now that I said that, newsflash, there are no surprises.  All the "juice" was pre-released, so in the book not only is the so called scandalous stuff already revealed weeks ago, the book does not add any depth to those stories.

 

239 pages, took me ~ 4 hours to read.  That's including time to make cocktails.

 

Biggest takeaway at the end... Phil is sitting out PGA Championship because of this????  WTF?  I hope not, the book really isn't damaging enough for that!

 

The three "headliner" stories on the negative side are the LIV stuff, apparently owing Bones $400K, and gambling debts.  Here's my takeaway on the three based on the book.

 

Bones story - There is a lot we do not know and I'm very sure we will never know.  Without Bones quoting directly the story is pretty much gossip.  And I think there's a reason Bones is not on record, in part because he might be an idiot.  The gossip is Phil made some kind of commitment to compensate Bones for the FedEx Cup payout.  Somehow Bones thought this should be $900K.  I say "somehow" because we do not know what was the agreement and if it was in writing.  Keep this in mind, literally the details shared in the book are a couple of paragraphs.  It's the absence of information that speaks volumes.  Anyway, Phil paid $500K.  So apparently he stiffed Bones $400k.  Obviously there is some kind of dispute/disagreement over what is owed, but who is right?  

 

With such a lack of detail, Shipnuck is an a hole putting that in the book.

 

Gambling debts - literally, a paragraph in the book with Shipnuck sourcing unnamed person, not even naming their "role" who had access to investigation notes on Phil and it's their estimate they saw $40M in losses.  That's it.  We don't know if that's net losses, how many years...we do not even know if the person's estimate is even accurate.  We know nothing, maybe a little more than gossip, but it is far from substantiated.  We do know Phil paid Walters gambling debts.  But how often?  It came across to me that it was around $1M - $2M every now and then, like maybe 3 or 4 times per year? Maybe less?  Phil was making $50M+ per year for several years, who cares if he lost a few mil gambling.  Amy didn't care. I doubt Phil is down net $40M in gambling and even if he was, he can afford it.

 

LIV - this is the part of the book that ticks me off because it's sloppy writing.  I'm not going to take the time to piece together what Shipnuck said and when in relation to why release the quotes and delayed book release because of Covid, but it smells like b.s. to me.  Clearly, the last chapter of the book was re-written very recently to recapture all the same garbage we all heard in the news.  And nothing extra in the book.  If the book was "done" earlier, then why am I reading Rory's quote from late February?

 

So that's the negative side... But here's the kicker, is such a small part of the book.  I'm not even sure who this book is written for.  The Phil fanatic who wants too re-live shot by shot Phil's first Masters win?  The Phil hater who wants to read about every Phil US Open shortfall?  Anyone who was a regular golf viewer the last 20 years already knows 90% of this book.  And Shipnuck's core premise, who is the real Phil, is so stupid.  He acts like he's so fascinated about the multiple sides of Phil and he's such an enigma, oh!  We need a book to decipher Phil.  Guess what?  Phil really is not that complicated at all and the book clearly shows that while still trying to claim we can't figure him out!

 

First 2/3 of the book is 90% pro Phil with the only "negatives" being the trash talking and it took him a long time to win his first major.  The last 1/3 off the book is still 80% pro Phil it just mixes in those other negatives.  Sure, sprinkled in are quotes from other players on the negative side, but it's pretty tame, and there are a lot more positive quotes.

 

Looking back now I see.  The book was on track to be a fairly boring release, but Phil gave it life when he was trash talking the PGA Tour talking nonsense about media rights, then Shipnuck remembered he had that recording of Phil trash talking the Saudis and leveraging LIV... Then all of the sudden the book has life, release a quote, re-write chapter 18, and make a little more money.

 

Overall, the book is boring, maybe three good one-liners, and soon it will be forgotten.

 

 

 

Per the podcast he paid $400k earlier and $400 k in 2017  Owing him $100k and change.  

[dcmidnight]

3 hours ago, CasualLie said:

First 2/3 of the book is 90% pro Phil with the only "negatives" being the trash talking and it took him a long time to win his first major.  The last 1/3 off the book is still 80% pro Phil it just mixes in those other negatives.  Sure, sprinkled in are quotes from other players on the negative side, but it's pretty tame, and there are a lot more positive quotes.

 

To be completely honest, I don't know how to feel about the book. I think if there was no press, no podcasts, no Golf Channel previews and I came into the book totally blind - I would have breezed through this and said it was a pretty good book, Phil seems like he's got a lot going on in his life - and I would have moved on, I don't think I would have thought about it for one more second. 

And as you said, most of the entire book is pro Phil. Anyone who's holding onto some grudge or misguided belief that this is a hatchet job on Phil and boo hoo Phil - sorry but you continue to be 100% wrong.

 

Honestly I just thought there would be a little more meat to the book. And I dont mean more juicy stories or anything like that...just...more book period. It was a perfectly OK book, if you have a plane flight and you want to kill some time, its still worth the Kindle price IMO. But it will take you no time at all to read.

[Greg_B]

.

Edited May 18, 2022 by Greg_B

[Fuscinator]

Shipnutz strikes me as being from the parasite school of journalism. 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

So in reality it seems that Phil's real issues are still rooted in what he said about the PGA Tour and his involvement in building a competing league.  I'm still on the fence as to whether I want to read it or maybe listen to the audio version while I'm driving or walking.  Or maybe I've already heard enough from what I've read here on WRX. 

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

1 hour ago, bscinstnct said:

 

 

And Do fedex winners always pay 10% to caddies. I’m thinking they may not. 

 

I can't speak to situations where it hasn't come up, but recall reading the stories of Stenson, Spieth and at least a couple others talking about the caddies getting their share, so I assume they do.  When it was an annuity kind of thing before I think they changed it to straight cash, I have no idea how that worked, but maybe they got their share as the winner got his.  Have to guess it's covered in whatever their agreement is and I could see a player having a different point of view about a $10 million "bonus" vs. the regular earnings (not saying I agree with it, but whatever they agree on is up to them so certainly possible it isn't handled the same).

[Hawkeye77]

Just now, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

So in reality it seems that Phil's real issues are still rooted in what he said about the PGA Tour and his involvement in building a competing league.  I'm still on the fence as to whether I want to read it or maybe listen to the audio version while I'm driving or walking.  Or maybe I've already heard enough from what I've read here on WRX. 

 

 

Yep - from the Tour's side, including many players.  Jaime Diaz had some good insights last night, IMO.

 

Beyond that, and it's still related, are whatever issues he has with the Saudi $$$$ providers in relation to any money he's taken, what he may still owe them in terms of performance and how he gets out of that, if he can or if he even wants to.

 

It's like that Workday commercial, but he's in the deep hole yelling, "Jay ...... Jay?"

[TourSpoon]

I always have enjoyed Phil and what he brings to a golf tournament. His legendary needling, betting, and comments are what comes with him. I only have 2 real questions about this whole deal and I am not sure we will get to the bottom of it this week (maybe the other guys' book has a bombshell as alluded to earlier). 

 

1. Nothing in Shipnuk's book is PGA withdraw worthy. Or is it? I really wanted to see Phil defend. I thought if he really wanted to clean up the public comments and go back to the PGA Tour he could. I guess he is doubling down (pun intended). 

 

2. Bones comment about not knowing a guy that he stood next to for 25 years. This is about as deep as he goes as he is not going to become part of the story. He is a caddy and developing his media career, but he is not in any position to take on Phil.  Is there more to the story? There always is, but again it does not help Bones move forward toward opportunities if he gets bogged down in it. His best path forward is being Phil free. 

[Ghost of Snead]

17 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Yep - from the Tour's side, including many players.  Jaime Diaz had some good insights last night, IMO.

 

Beyond that, and it's still related, are whatever issues he has with the Saudi $$$$ providers in relation to any money he's taken, what he may still owe them in terms of performance and how he gets out of that, if he can or if he even wants to.

 

It's like that Workday commercial, but he's in the deep hole yelling, "Jay ...... Jay?"

 

This ... if Phil's financial situation is worse than portrayed and he took $$$ from the Saudis to pay some debts, that's a much bigger issue than issuing an apology and dropping the LIV Tour entirely 

[Hawkeye77]

On this Phil and FedEx Cup thing.  My mistake above, yes, deferred payments were made to retirement accounts. 

 

Phil's finishes haven't been noteworthy forever.  In 2009 he finished second, his bonus was $3 million and he got almost all of his money up front.  He had a third prior.  Since then, nothing to write home about and again most or all of his money in cash, not deferred.

 

Speaking of the Tour's greed, lol, and not caring about the players, Phil's retirement account via the PGA Tour has to have a staggering amount of money in it, as an aside.  I'll bet the Tour has done better with his money than he would have.

 

There isn't any significant aspect of FedEx Cup $ that should have gotten in the way of him paying Bones, so if he owed him $900,000 there was more to it than Phil's Fed Ex Cup money, it would seem.

 

 

[dcmidnight]

5 minutes ago, TourSpoon said:

Nothing in Shipnuk's book is PGA withdraw worthy. Or is it?

 

I saw absolutely nothing to be completely honest - which leads me to believe there is a lot more going on behind the scenes. Again this is a good book - but you basically know all the "bad stuff" by now.

 

1 minute ago, Ghost of Snead said:

 

This ... if Phil's financial situation is worse than portrayed and he took $$$ from the Saudis to pay some debts, that's a much bigger issue than issuing an apology and dropping the LIV Tour entirely 

 

After reading the book, I am sort of leaning in this direction - because honestly I dont know what else to think. Again there really is a small, small % of "bad Phil" in the book. 

[Hawkeye77]

6 minutes ago, TourSpoon said:

I always have enjoyed Phil and what he brings to a golf tournament. His legendary needling, betting, and comments are what comes with him. I only have 2 real questions about this whole deal and I am not sure we will get to the bottom of it this week (maybe the other guys' book has a bombshell as alluded to earlier). 

 

1. Nothing in Shipnuk's book is PGA withdraw worthy. Or is it? I really wanted to see Phil defend. I thought if he really wanted to clean up the public comments and go back to the PGA Tour he could. I guess he is doubling down (pun intended). 

 

2. Bones comment about not knowing a guy that he stood next to for 25 years. This is about as deep as he goes as he is not going to become part of the story. He is a caddy and developing his media career, but he is not in any position to take on Phil.  Is there more to the story? There always is, but again it does not help Bones move forward toward opportunities if he gets bogged down in it. His best path forward is being Phil free. 

And as for Bones not saying much, if Phil owed him money and worked something out via a settlement with Bones, it seems 100% certain there would have been a little bit of paperwork accompanying said settlement that would have had Bones agreeing to say nothing about it.  Forget about Phil and his image driven self, just ordinary business sense would have demanded such an agreement.

[dcmidnight]

2 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

And as for Bones not saying much, if Phil owed him money and worked something out via a settlement with Bones, it seems 100% certain there would have been a little bit of paperwork accompanying said settlement that would have had Bones agreeing to say nothing about it.  Forget about Phil and his image driven self, just ordinary business sense would have demanded such an agreement.

 

Agreed, an NDA or some sort of agreement would be completely normal in a case like this. Also, Bones has been out on tour the last couple weeks since this came out and I'd argue he has more backdoor connections to the press than most players. If something in the book was completely, outrageously false - he would have found a way to let people know.

[CasualLie]

1 hour ago, bladehunter said:

Per the podcast he paid $400k earlier and $400 k in 2017  Owing him $100k and change.  

 

That's right, sorry, book is so poorly written.  Page 198, and only there.  

 

- Phil made various promises of paying percentage of FedEx Cup bonus (FedEx Cup bonus started 10 years after Bones started with Phil

 

- Phil did not pay Bones a cut of FedEx $ for 10 years

 

- Bones calculated it at $900k and was getting miffed

 

- Phil paid $400k

 

- Bones still upset and also upset he did not have any 18th hole flags from any wins, particularly a Masters flag, which is customary (book already covered how all the flags went to Phil's grandfather to go on the kitchen/dining wall)

 

- Phil / Bones split

 

- one week later Phil pays another $400k and gets flags from PGA, British, and two Masters

 

- Apparently Bones still mad about the flags because Phil signed them

[vjswing]

2 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

And as for Bones not saying much, if Phil owed him money and worked something out via a settlement with Bones, it seems 100% certain there would have been a little bit of paperwork accompanying said settlement that would have had Bones agreeing to say nothing about it.  Forget about Phil and his image driven self, just ordinary business sense would have demanded such an agreement.

I've been thinking all along that there's most likely an "NDA" that exists re: the Phil & Bones compensation issue.  And beyond that - as someone who's followed the pro game forever, caddies have ALWAYS taken the "vow of silence" when it comes to "sackings".  They simply do not want to jeopardize any future opportunities with other players, or in Bones' case, media-related offers.

[Ferguson]

1 hour ago, dcmidnight said:

 

To be completely honest, I don't know how to feel about the book. I think if there was no press, no podcasts, no Golf Channel previews and I came into the book totally blind - I would have breezed through this and said it was a pretty good book, Phil seems like he's got a lot going on in his life - and I would have moved on, I don't think I would have thought about it for one more second. 

And as you said, most of the entire book is pro Phil. Anyone who's holding onto some grudge or misguided belief that this is a hatchet job on Phil and boo hoo Phil - sorry but you continue to be 100% wrong.

 

Honestly I just thought there would be a little more meat to the book. And I dont mean more juicy stories or anything like that...just...more book period. It was a perfectly OK book, if you have a plane flight and you want to kill some time, its still worth the Kindle price IMO. But it will take you no time at all to read.

 

The book is a reflection of Phil.  An image with no substance hiding behind sunglasses.

 

   

 

[CasualLie]

15 minutes ago, dcmidnight said:

 

I saw absolutely nothing to be completely honest - which leads me to believe there is a lot more going on behind the scenes. Again this is a good book - but you basically know all the "bad stuff" by now.

 

 

After reading the book, I am sort of leaning in this direction - because honestly I dont know what else to think. Again there really is a small, small % of "bad Phil" in the book. 

 

I'm more than leaning towards the other direction.  Phil is far from broke.  We do not have any concrete evidence otherwise.  It would not surprised me at all if he's sitting on $300M plus.

 

The book marketing previews and and all the other bad news would have you believe in the theory he signed with LIV for the money because he's in bad financial shape.  Based on what?? Historical gambking losses and because he sold his private jet three years ago???  Prior to all of this, while Phil was legendary for many things, was he known for throwing all his money away?  Deep in debt to banks???  No.

 

From his tweets, interviews, and talk to Shipnuck he almost certainly looks like he was playing both sides (PGAT and LIV) and in the process took some of that big money dangled in front of him by Greg.  He even got his ego stroked participating in the drafting of the operating agreement.  Like Greg, but for some other dumb reason, he has some resentment towards the tour, likes to be the "smart guy" and probably thought he can play both sides and collect from both sides.  Even thinks he's entitled to that!  

 

And now here we are...pushed it too far.  His issue is not how does he keep the LIV money because he's broke, he's thinking like any other "rich guy" how do I get to eat my cake.  He's loathe to return the money just out his own personal ethics (or lack of).

 

 

[TourSpoon]

17 minutes ago, vjswing said:

I've been thinking all along that there's most likely an "NDA" that exists re: the Phil & Bones compensation issue.  And beyond that - as someone who's followed the pro game forever, caddies have ALWAYS taken the "vow of silence" when it comes to "sackings".  They simply do not want to jeopardize any future opportunities with other players, or in Bones' case, media-related offers.

Honestly, if its a 100k you walk it off, especially with his future earning potential on the line which hinges on him being a stand-up guy. More than that and you have to think, so a NDA makes sense. 

[Ferguson]

Two things.

 

1. I would never read this trash

2. No book, story or gesture will make Phil an honest and ethical person