Phil Mickelson debunks speculation that his split with ‘Bones’ was anything but mutual

Phil Mickelson, six days after he and his caddie of 25 years, Jim “Bones” Mackay, announced they were parting ways, refuted conjecture that the split was anything other than each guy wanting to try something new.

“We’ve kind of sensed it,” Mickelson said on Monday’s Dan Patrick Show. “We both kind of talked about it.”

Though Mickelson contended the two longtime friends and golf partners had targeted their 25th anniversary, the U.S. Open at Erin Hills earlier this month, as their swan song, Patrick wondered aloud whether there had been “something else” (like the somewhat contentious convo between the two during The Players Championship in May) that precipitated the breakup of golf’s most enduring and popular power couple:

Mickelson, of course, ended up missing the national championship to attend the high school graduation of his daughter Amanda, though he had Mackay scout the course for his then-boss on the off chance the five-time major winner would be able to make his opening-round tee time.

“We were hoping that the U.S. Open would be our last tournament together because we started at the U.S. Open in 1992, 25 years ago,” he said. “We’ve had 25 incredible years where we’ve shared highs and lows on and off the golf course.”

Unlike the less-than-amicable Tiger Woods-Steve Williams divorce, Mickelson insisted his separation from Mackay was a mutual decision.

“I don’t think it was a firing,” said Lefty, who should know better than anyone whether or not he canned Bones. “There wasn’t an incident.”

Mickelson, who said both men “needed a change and … were looking for something different,” praised his ex-bagman’s skills and noted he would likely end up looping for any number of “great, great players.”

“I think a lot of top players are going to want him on the bag because of his experience, his knowledge, his ability to think clearly under the gun, his Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup experiences … and having such a high golf IQ,” Mickelson stated.

Mickelson, who has not won a PGA Tour event since 2013, said he was looking forward to having his younger brother, Tim, handling his luggage for the rest of the season.

“I think he’s [Bones] going to be able to bring a lot to the table for a number of players, and I think that’s going to be exciting and give him a new energy to have an opportunity like that,” Mickelson added. “And for me ... to have time with my brother is going to be exciting for me as well.”