When Phil Mickelson strides to the tee box at The American Express, the usual suspects are there around him: His caddie, his three playing partners and their caddies, a person to keep the official score.
But there’s another man who has become a fixture with Mickelson in the desert over the years: Sgt. Ben Ramirez of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. He’s the one in the camo colors, sheriff’s outfit, tactical vest, gun on his hip.
“I’m just out here to keep the peace, be a visible presence,” said Ramirez who has been working this event since 2000 and has been with Phil Mickelson’s group 12 or 13 times. “We don’t ever have too much trouble here in the valley with golf crowds. No real criminal incidents.
MORE: Third round tee times, TV info | Scores
“Back when they didn’t allow cell phones and cameras, the marshals were dealing with that all the time and sometimes they would ask for assistance. Escorting someone off the course because their pass is being revoked. Just some people being overly intoxicated. Thankfully, nothing major has really happened out here, but if something did we’re prepared to handle it.”
Not every pro golfer here has a sheriff walking around with them, just the high-profile ones. In fact, this week on Thursday and Friday, only Mickelson and Rickie Fowler are accompanied by an officer.
When a PGA tournament comes to town, the PGA’s security works hand in hand with local law enforcement. They plan out the number of officers needed for things such as parking and traffic and general security, and which players may require extra attention.
Ramirez has been lucky enough to draw the assignment of walking the course with Mickelson multiple times. Well “lucky” isn’t quite the right word.
“It’s not by accident,” said Ramirez, who has lived in the desert for 26 years. “The truth is most deputies don’t golf, aren’t fans of golf, don’t want to walk around with all this stuff on. And they know I like to do it, so I’ve been fortunate that most sergeants over the years have allowed me to keep doing it.”
Ramirez is pretty much tied to Mickelson for the entire day. When Mickelson is on the putting green, Ramirez is near the putting green. When Mickelson is on the driving range, Ramirez is near the driving range. And then he walks with Mickelson’s group for all 18 holes.
He and Phil have developed a rapport over the years.
“I mean, he’s not inviting me over for dinner or anything,” Ramirez joked. “But he remembers me and is very cordial and professional. Some guys like to shoot the breeze and others, hey they’re very focused and very into their game. And I get that. This is their livelihood. I’m not expecting them to be all buddy-buddy. They’ve got a job to do and so do it.”
Ramirez did share one special moment between he and Phil after the 2007 event.
That was the year the tournament was played at the Classic Club and Mickelson — with Ramirez alongside — shot a final-round 78 and was frustrated by the windy location and the tournament in general. Sensing that this could be the last time they saw each other, Ramirez wanted to say thanks and goodbye so he found Mickelson out in the parking lot as he was leaving.
“Up to that point, I had taken a few pictures with him, and he had given me an autographed glove before, but I just went out to say goodbye, and as I was walking away, he said ‘Hey Ben, hold on,’ ” Ramirez recalled. “And then he reached into the trunk of his car, pulled out a flag from the 2007 Masters and signed it and wrote ‘To Ben, thanks for all your help.’ I was taken aback. Completely unsolicited. It was fantastic.”
Ramirez has the flag framed and hanging at his house.
“Not everyone on tour is a genuine good guy, like when the cameras aren’t on them,” Ramirez said. “But Phil is, and that’s why I like to work with him. It’s no secret why he is a fan favorite.”
Like Ramirez said, only Mickelson and Rickie Fowler have a specific sheriff assigned to them. The final two groups Sunday will likely also have a sheriff with them.
Ramirez said back in the day when this tournament had celebrities a lot more officers were deployed to walk with those groups.
“Your Samuel L. Jacksons, your George Lopezes, people like that, the celebrities often require it because they may have like a stalker-type person they’ve had problems with or, just in general, people out there to see the celebrities may not understand the rules and etiquette of golf,” Ramirez said.
For his day-to-day responsibilities, Ramirez is a sergeant with the homicide unit, a detective supervisor for a unit that has four sergeants and 20 detectives.
But for a few days a year, he’s happy being Lefty’s right-hand man.
“It’s really neat for me to still be able to do this. It’s a nice change of pace and scenery,” he said. “Phil is turning 50 this year and so am I, so we’re both nearing retirement. … But I think he’ll probably be golfing longer than I’ll be doing this.”
