When Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, hung up his Speedo following the 2016 Olympics in Rio, he embarked on a new (and perhaps even tougher) journey: To become a scratch golfer. That quest has taken him around the golf world, from the 16th tee at Augusta National during Tiger’s magical final round in 2019 to Caves Valley Golf Club on Wednesday, where Phelps could be found hitting the links ahead of the 2021 BMW Championship.
That is the swing of a man who has used retirement to put his 12 handicap on a serious diet, but perhaps the most impressive part of Phelps’ improved game is his custom 28-star wedge stamp, featuring one star for each Olympic medal that once dangled around his neck. Read 'em and weep, folks.
There are exactly zero human beings on earth who have earned the right to rock this besides Phelps. Perhaps that's why he has been able to help the likes of Tiger Woods and 2021 U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm with their games despite being 1/100th of the golfers they are. Phelps is the mentality king. He is untouchable and unflappable. He knows it but doesn’t need everyone else to. He just slaps it on his wedge as a reminder, after a missed approach or skulled chip, that when it comes time to determine the true GOAT, there is only one answer.
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