I try to respect everybody out here: players, caddies, fans

In the words of Phil Mickelson, master of the green and student of grace, we find a truth both simple and profound: “I try to respect everybody out here: players, caddies, fans, media.” These words, though humble in sound, contain the heart of a great philosophy — that success without respect is hollow, and victory without humility is fleeting. In them speaks a man who has walked through triumph and failure alike, and who understands that true greatness is not found in the trophies one lifts, but in the dignity with which one walks among others.

Phil Mickelson, known affectionately as “Lefty,” has lived his life beneath the open skies of the golf course, where silence, patience, and precision rule. In that vast green world, every swing carries not only skill but spirit, and every player stands equal before the elements. His words are born of experience — years of competition, years of learning that golf, like life, is not a battle against others but a journey shared with them. When he says, “I try to respect everybody,” he speaks as a craftsman of character. The players, who strive beside him; the caddies, who shoulder the burdens of the course; the fans, who give energy and love; and the media, who tell the story — all are threads in the great tapestry of the game. To honor them is to honor the very soul of sport.

In every age, there are men who rise not only because of their talent but because of their conduct. Mickelson belongs to that noble lineage — athletes who understand that respect is the invisible crown that adorns true champions. For respect is the language of those who see beyond themselves, who understand that every victory is built upon the unseen labor of many. The caddie who studies the wind, the groundskeeper who shapes the fairway, the fan who cheers in the rain — these are not bystanders but sacred participants in the ritual of excellence. To respect them is to remain grounded in gratitude.

History, too, honors those who knew the power of respect. Consider the great Roger Federer, whose mastery of tennis was matched only by his reverence for his rivals. After a hard-fought match, he would bow his head to the opponent, the umpire, and the crowd — a gesture small in motion but vast in meaning. Like Mickelson, he understood that respect is not submission but recognition — the acknowledgment that even in competition, there exists kinship. To play with respect is to compete not for domination, but for elevation — to make one another better, to keep the spirit of the game alive for generations to come.

In the world of sport — and indeed, in the world at large — the absence of respect breeds chaos. When ego reigns and humility fades, cooperation dies and conflict rises. Yet the one who lives with respect moves in harmony with all things. He knows that every person he meets has a story, every task performed has value, and every voice, no matter how small, deserves to be heard. Phil Mickelson’s creed of respect is thus not confined to the golf course; it is a way of living. To respect others is to live with empathy, to recognize that every soul carries its own weight and worth.

It is said that the wise man treats both friend and stranger with dignity, for he sees himself reflected in all. In this way, Mickelson’s words echo the ancient teachings of Stoic philosophers, who believed that honor lies not in fame or fortune, but in how one treats others along the way. Whether on the field, in the workplace, or in the home, respect is the thread that weaves harmony from discord. It is the bridge between competition and compassion, between success and humility.

So, my children, take this wisdom as your own: respect everyone. Respect the one who stands beside you, and the one who stands against you. Respect the one who serves quietly, and the one who speaks loudly. In moments of victory, let your joy be gracious; in moments of defeat, let your dignity remain unbroken. Remember that your worth is not only measured by what you achieve, but by how you treat others on your path. For when respect guides your actions, you will never walk alone, and when you honor those around you, everything you do becomes an act of greatness.

And thus, as Phil Mickelson teaches through his life and his words, let every step — on the course or beyond it — be walked with reverence. For the truest champion is not the one who stands above others, but the one who stands among them, humble, grateful, and ever respectful of all.