PINEHURST, N.C. — Phil Mickelson, in a conversation about this week’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst, was speaking to The Post about Bryson DeChambeau and the things that make him one of the most fascinating figures in golf.

“He’s willing to take on things and try to go down a different route if he thinks it might help him play better, and then he dedicates himself to it and does it 100 percent, he doesn’t hold back,’’ Mickelson said. “He goes all-in, and that willingness to take risks and to try different things and to see things differently is leading to him having an advantage over other players in a lot of areas.’’

When it was pointed out to Mickelson that his description of DeChambeau easily could be someone describing him, he laughed over the phone.

“Maybe I do see a lot similarities,’’ Mickelson said. “Even though we do things differently, that same type of internal makeup is probably why I’m drawn to him.’’

The fact is, just about anyone who’s interested in golf is drawn to DeChambeau.

That was as evident as ever at the PGA Championship last month at Valhalla, where the fans wildly embraced him as he nearly won the Wanamaker Trophy before Xander Schauffele seized it with clutch golf on the final few holes.

Valhalla went nuts for DeChambeau, whom many golf fans used to mock for being quirky and on the wrong side of a weird rift with then-rival Brooks Koepka just a couple of years ago.

DeChambeau with an electric 7-under-par final round, finished 20-under par at Valhalla, one shot short of Schauffele’s winning score of 21-under.

Entering this week at Pinehurst, the winner of the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot stands as one of the favorites to win his national championship.

If DeChambeau does win this week, it will be a popular victory for a player who has transformed his public image in a similar way to how he has transformed his golf game over the years.

Other than winning over fans with his rare skills on the golf course, DeChambeau has welcomed them into his world with his keen use of social media, particularly his own YouTube channel.

“I think he’s had a vision for how to promote the game of golf, and how to inspire and attract young kids and the younger generation through social media and his YouTube channel,’’ Mickelson said. “He’s doing it, and the reception of him has been so positive. He’s a very charismatic individual, and he’s got he’s got a unique way of seeing the world and playing the game of golf.

“And his use of his YouTube channel and social media presence has allowed him to connect with fans at a level that is very rare in any sport. It was very noticeable by the way the fans reacted to him at Augusta and at the PGA.’’

I recalled having a conversation with DeChambeau while walking a practice round with him at Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge a few years ago, before there was LIV Golf, and he spoke then about his vision to connect with fans via his own social channels.

And here we are now.

“I’ve worked really hard to have people hopefully understand who I am a little bit better,” DeChambeau said at the PGA. “YouTube has been a great platform to help that out. I love doing it. It’s a lot of fun. It just keeps my brain fresh and in an entertainment mode, and realizing what the game is all about: not just for myself and winning money or winning trophies, but entertaining as well.’’

DeChambeau has spent much of his career misunderstood largely because he does have a quirky personality and sometimes says things without a filter that people can perceive as arrogant.

Some saw his dramatic bulking-up during the pandemic and his cock-sure public belief that he was going to revolutionize the sport as arrogant and misguided.

I’ve known DeChambeau as an introspective, charitable person who does a lot of things behind the scenes, such as visiting ailing children in hospitals. He had been that way years before his brand became what is it today.

I credit DeChambeau’s maturity for eventually realizing his incredible-bulk program wasn’t going to be sustainable, and he transformed his body again — this time to a leaner, more flexible state.

“He’s always willing to try something different,’’ Mickelson said, “and he’s willing to admit when he’s wrong and go back.’’

That, too, is part of the draw to DeChambeau.

“Even for me as a professional, I’m drawn to him to watch because he can do things that nobody else can,’’ Mickelson said. “He’s just very charismatic and draws everybody, from fans to other fellow professionals, in to watch him perform.’’