Jordan Spieth wants to use U.S. Open trophy to psych out Phil Mickelson in PGA money game

Jordan Spieth has just the thing to gain an edge over Phil Mickelson during their pre-PGA Championship money game: the U.S. Open trophy.

Even before finishing with a 4-under 66 Sunday at Firestone, the reigning Masters and U.S. Open champ had concocted a scheme to taunt the six-time U.S. Open runner-up when he and Justin Thomas take on Lefty and Rickie Fowler for bragging rights and a few Benjamins on Tuesday.

“I’m going to try to get the U.S. Open trophy flown in so I can sit it on the front of each green for Phil,” Spieth jokingly (we believe) told reporters after tying for 10th place at last week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. “That’s just dishing it back. We’ll see if we can get somebody to carry it around for the round.

“It’s the first time I have something on him,” Spieth said about Lefty’s renowned penchant for talking smack and winning large sums during his pre-tourney outings.

Of course, tipping Phil off may have been a tactical error, as Tim Rosaforte noted.

Spieth’s statement that he had never gotten one over on Mickelson was also a tad incorrect. As a rookie in his first pre-tourney practice game with Phil and friends, Spieth teamed with Steve Stricker to pick the pockets of Lefty and his then-protege Keegan Bradley.

In these Tuesdays with Mickelson, the winner of every major but the U.S. Open (and five grand slam events overall) has long enjoyed prepping PGA Tour newbies for the pressures inside the ropes once the real festivities kick off. After finishing T63 in Akron at 11-over -- 15 strokes behind Spieth -- we’re guessing the current U.S. Open champ, who likes his chances of completing the American Slam this week, just might be able to teach his sensei a few new tricks.

SB Nation video archives: Urban golfing with a U.S. Open champ (2012)