Grew up playing alongside his dad, Keith, and Keith's friends on weekends at a 9-hole golf course, Lake Estates Golf Course at Trinity Plantation, in Trinity, Texas, which he affectionately refers to as the "Pea Patch". They would "lap around the 9-hole course all day" and play until dark.

Recorded three consecutive top-10 finishes at the Class 4A high school state championship from 2012-14, with Scottie Scheffler taking the individual title all three years. Phillips won the 2015 state title as a senior, when Scheffler had graduated and Huntsville High School moved up to Class 5A.

Tombstone is far and away his favorite movie of all time, with Chandler saying, "Any time it is on -- I don't care if it's got 10 minutes left or if it just started -- that's going to be on the TV until it's over with."

Former college roommates with Cameron Champ.

Received putting advice from Rickie Fowler during the COVID-19 pandemic hiatus. Chandler had previously met Rickie and happened to have his number from the last time they crossed paths. Chandler reached out and asked if Rickie knew anyone who would be a good putting coach. Rickie didn't have anyone who came to mind for Chandler, so Rickie instead offered to help himself. Chandler would send Rickie a video, and Rickie would send back a video or a suggestion. The two played a practice round together at the 2023 Valero Texas Open, which Chandler played as a sponsor exemption.

Played collegiately for four seasons at Texas A&M University (2015-19), where he won seven tournaments, four of which came as a junior in the 2017-18 season.

Posted the three lowest single-season scoring averages in program history (70.18 in 2018-19, 70.85 in 2017-18, 71.15 in 2016-17), broke the school record for career scoring average (71.35) and career wins (seven), and recorded the second-most wins in a season in school history (four in 2017-18, only behind Anthony Rodriguez's six from 1994-95).

Honors included three All-America selections (first-team laurel in 2018, second-team laurels in 2017 and 2019), three consecutive All-Southeastern Conference First Team selections (2017-19) and an All-SEC Second Team selection as a freshman in 2016.

Joined Bryce Molder as the only other American in history to play in three Arnold Palmer Cups, competing in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Alternate for the 2019 Walker Cup, but did not earn a spot on the team.