Phil Mickelson told exactly what he is by Open fan after selfless practice round gesture

Phil Mickelson truly made it a day to remember at Royal Troon , charming fans with his dedication as he gears up for The Open Championship. One admirer summed up the sentiment perfectly, exclaiming to Mickelson, "That was brilliant what you did for those kids, well done."

Late Tuesday afternoon saw Mickelson, alongside LIV Golf colleagues Jon Rahm, David Puig and Andy Ogletree, getting a feel for the Scottish course, braving the cool breezes off the West Coast.

Rather than seeking refuge indoors after his 18th hole finish, Mickelson approached the eager crowd, spending about 20 minutes to ensure that every autograph seeker and selfie hopeful left with a smile.

READ MORE: Bryson DeChambeau's snub highlighted as Rory McIlroy sets sights on historic win
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy puts LIV Golf rivals on notice with reply to Open question

At 54, Mickelson's bond with Troon is undeniable, having played a pivotal role in the unforgettable Open Championship of 2016. Despite a valiant effort, Mickelson finished second to Henrik Stenson after both dominated the leaderboard, culminating in Stenson's remarkable eight-under-par final round to claim his sole major win.

Mickelson reminisced about his past glories in a recent heart-to-heart on LIV's official website, saying: "To go head-to-head with somebody I have so much respect for, even though I still came up short, I have this great life experience and this great memory and this great competition to look back on."

"I loved the week. I loved playing like that. I want to play like that again. That's why I'm working hard. I love competing and having a chance to win like that. Even though I came up short, I thought it was a lot of fun to be a part of that."

Once a titan of the greens, Mickelson's star has waned since he became the poster boy for the controversial LIV Golf series. Yet, as the dust settles on the initial uproar over the rebel tour's inception, it's evident that Mickelson's charm still resonates with the crowd, evidenced by the throngs of fans eager for an autograph or a selfie with the golf legend.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.