If you’re a golf enthusiast, you might not have heard of Ryan French, but you’ve likely encountered his work. French is the mastermind behind the popular Monday Q Info account, which shines a spotlight on the lesser-known players and underdogs of the golf world. Over time, he’s carved out a distinct niche within the golf media landscape.
Thanks to his social media fame, French has enjoyed some unique opportunities. One of the standout experiences was playing a couple of rounds of golf—and receiving a chipping lesson—from none other than Phil Mickelson.
“Phil’s role in professional golf is certainly layered,” French shared on the latest episode of GOLF’s Subpar podcast. “But he’s been incredibly generous to a big fan like me.”
The introduction between French and Mickelson happened through Mark Baldwin, a fellow professional golfer and French’s partner at Monday Q Info. With Baldwin’s help, Mickelson extended an invitation to French for a day on the links. However, French faced a challenging predicament: he was struggling with a severe case of the chipping yips.
French recounted the scene: “We were just 10 feet away from the green, and I was either chunking or sending chips skidding across it,” he confessed. “I took 10 shots, and not a single one stayed on the green, all under the watchful eye of Phil Mickelson. That’s how we met.”
Fortunate for French, Mickelson offered some invaluable tips to overcome the yips.
“I was in some pretty dark places,” French admitted. “His advice really helped.”
Once they hit the course, the day turned into an unforgettable experience.
“I got to play 36 holes with him, in pouring rain, and it was with one of the greatest golfers of our era,” French reminisced. “It was unbelievably cool.”
For the full story, you can catch the entire Subpar episode below.
