Two Masters champions’ awkward locker room conflict after officers known as
Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh locker room clash occurred 20 years ago – after a dispute over the length of spikes led to rule officials being called during the tournament
Two Masters champions were set to return to Augusta this week – 20 years after their infamous locker room clash. Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh had a major dispute during the 2005 tournament, and it was all to do with Mickelson’s spikes.
The disagreement happened after the second round on Friday, when Singh took issue with Mickelson’s spikes, which he said were leaving marks in the greens.
However, this wasn’t the first complaint of the year – as a few months before he had demanded Tiger Woods’ driver be checked by officials at Bay Hill.
On the 12th hole, Singh called over an official to complain about Mickelson, who was playing in the group ahead and who had switched from 6mm to 8mm spikes just weeks before.
He was informed of the complaint and was told, according to reports, that his spikes would be filed down if necessary.
Stuart Appleby, Mickelson’s playing partner at the time, jokingly asked: “What are they going to send? A blacksmith?” However, former chair of Augusta National’s competition, Will Nicholson, soon said: “One of our officials talked to Phil to see if there was a burr on the side of one of his spikes.
“He very generously, as you know he would, said he would change them when he got in if there was a problem. There wasn’t.”
Later, Mickelson said: “I was extremely distracted and would have appreciated if it would have been handled differently or after the round. After sitting in the locker room for a while, I heard Vijay talking to other players about it, and I confronted him. He expressed his concerns.
“I expressed my disappointment with the way it was handled.”
Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams, later revealed that there was a “heated conversation in the locker room”. He said: “There’s no love lost between those two, that’s for sure.”
However, it appears things have cooled off between the two players. In 2020, Singh was criticised for taking a position on the Korn Ferry Tour – which is seen as a proving ground for those aiming for the PGA Tour – but was defended by Mickelson.
Mickelson said: “It’s no secret VJ and I aren’t close, but I’d like to say on his behalf that in addition to being a member of the HofF, he’s a big part of the PGA Tour’s success which financially subsidizes, and always has, the KFT.
“He has earned the right to play when and where he wants.” While both men were set to appear at the Masters this week, Singh has since withdrawn.
