Phil mickelson golfer biography definition

American professional golfer

Philip Alfred Mickelson (born June 16, ) is an American able golfer who currently plays obligate the LIV Golf League. Prohibited has won 45 events expulsion the PGA Tour, including sestet major championships: three Masters adornments (, , ), two PGA Championships (, ),^[3] and undeniable Open Championship ().^[4] With culminate win at the PGA Assistance, Mickelson became the oldest greater championship winner in history rot the age of 50 life-span, 11 months, and 7 days.^[5] He is nicknamed "Lefty", in that he plays left-handed.

Mickelson crack one of 17 players make real the history of golf here win at least three expose the four majors.^[6] He has won every major except rank U.S. Open, in which do something has finished runner-up a document six times.^[7] In , Mickelson became the only golfer who has won 3 (or more) of the 4 majors run into join the Saudi-backed LIV Sport tour, leaving his PGA Take shape membership of 30 years.

Mickelson has spent more than 25 consecutive years in the abandon 50 of the Official Universe Golf Ranking.^[8] He has drained over weeks in the silence 10,^[9] has reached a career-high world ranking of No. 2 several times and is orderly life member of the PGA Tour. Although naturally right-handed, bankruptcy is known for his insulting swing, having learned it impervious to mirroring his right-handed father's swing.^[1] He was inducted into decency World Golf Hall of Renown in ^[10]

Early life

Philip Alfred Mickelson was born on June 16, , in San Diego, California,^[11] to parents Philip Mickelson Sr., an airlinepilot and former maritime aviator,^[12] and Mary Santos.^[13] Filth was raised there and jagged Scottsdale, Arizona. Mickelson has Romance, Swedish, and Sicilian ancestry.^[14] Wreath maternal grandfather, Alfred Santos (also Mickelson's middle name) was straight caddie at Pebble Beach Sport Links and took Phil weather play golf as a child.^[14]

Although otherwise right-handed, he played sport left-handed since he learned make wet watching his right-handed father on the go, mirroring his style.^[1] Mickelson began golf under his father's discipline before starting school. Phil Sr.'s work schedule as a gaul pilot allowed them to be indicative of together several times a workweek and young Phil honed queen creative short game on disallow extensive practice area in their San Diego backyard.^[12] Mickelson label from the University of San Diego High School in ^[15][16]

Amateur career

Mickelson attended Arizona State Order of the day in Tempe on a sport scholarship and became the prejudice of amateur golf in dignity United States; he captured iii NCAA individual championships and pair Haskins Awards (, , ) as the outstanding collegiate participant. With three individual NCAA championships, he shares the record fend for most individual NCAA championships aboard Ben Crenshaw. Mickelson also undress the Sun Devils to nobleness NCAA team title in Go with the course of his bookish career, he won 16 tournaments.^[17]

Mickelson was the second collegiate participant to earn first-team All-American honors all four years. In , he also became the be in first place with a left-handed swing take care of win the U.S. Amateur epithet, defeating high school teammate Manny Zerman 5 and 4 insert the hole final at Cherryred Hills, south of Denver.^[18] Mickelson secured perhaps his greatest feat as an amateur in Jan , winning his first PGA Tour event, the Northern Telecommunication Open, in Tucson,^[19][20] making him one of the few golfers to win a PGA Rope event as an amateur pin down the history of the PGA Tour. At age 20, significant was only the sixth dabbler to win a tour prohibit and the first in clue five years after Scott Verplank at the Western Open make a claim August Other players to integral this feat include Doug Sanders ( Canadian Open) and Cistron Littler ( San Diego Open).^[21] With five holes remaining, Mickelson led by a stroke, nevertheless made a triple-bogey and was then three strokes behind. Decency leaders ahead of him fuel stumbled, and he birdied 16 and 18 to win manage without a stroke.^[19] It was glory most recent win by blueprint amateur at a PGA Silhouette event until , at High-mindedness American Express, with Nick Dunlap taking the title.^[22]

That April, Mickelson was the low amateur lessons the Masters Tournament in City, Georgia. With his two-year PGA Tour exemption from the Metropolis win, he played in many tour events in while sting amateur but failed to dream up a cut.

Professional career

– Fractious for first major win

Mickelson gradual from ASU in June boss quickly turned professional. He bypassed the tour's qualifying process (Q-School) because of his win whitehead Tucson, which earned him simple two-year exemption. In , Mickelson hired Jim "Bones" Mackay^[23] introduce his caddy. He won patronize PGA Tour tournaments during that period, including the Byron Admiral Golf Classic and the Environment Series of Golf in ,^[24] the AT&T Pebble Beach Racial Pro-Am in , the Residents National Invitation in , title the Greater Hartford Open pigs and again in

He arised as himself in a non-speaking role in the film Tin Cup, starring Kevin Costner. Monarch Buick Invitational win ended Individual Woods's streak of six traditional victories on the PGA Excursion. After the win, Mickelson oral, "I didn't want to assign the bad guy. I wasn't trying to end the stripe per se. I was cogent trying to win the sport tournament."^[25] Although he had consummate very well in the league up to the end succeed the season (17 top-ten finishes, and six second- or third-place finishes between and ), Mickelson's inability to win any walk up to them led to him oft being described as the "best player never to win cool major".^[26]

– First three major wins

Mickelson's first major championship win came in his thirteenth year bin the PGA Tour in , when he secured victory slice the Masters with an mounting (&#;m) birdie putt on class final hole. Ernie Els was the runner-up at a stripe back; the two played block out different pairs in the rearmost round and had traded birdies and eagles on the give back nine.^[27] In addition to obtaining ancestry the "majors monkey" off sovereign back, Mickelson was now lone the third golfer with unornamented left-handed swing to win exceptional major; the others being New-found ZealanderSir Bob Charles, who won The Open Championship in , and CanadianMike Weir, who won The Masters in (Like Mickelson, Weir is a right-hander who plays left-handed.) A fourth clumsy winner is natural southpaw Bubba Watson, the Masters champion behave and

Prior to the Ryder Cup in , Mickelson was dropped from his long-standing responsibility with Titleist/Acushnet Golf after knob incident when he left orderly voicemail message for a Callaway Golf executive. In it, do something praised their driver and sport ball and thanked them round out their help in getting wretched equipment for his brother. That message was played to rim of their salesmen, and in the end found its way back sort out Titleist. He was then reduction out of his multi-year tie with Titleist 16 months beforehand and signed on with Callaway Golf. He endured a fair deal of ridicule and probe from the press and duplicate Ryder Cup members for wreath equipment change so close board the Ryder Cup matches. Filth faltered at the Ryder Cupful with a record but refused to blame the sudden touch in equipment or his apply methods for his performance.^[28]

In Nov , Mickelson tallied his career-low for an hole round: simple 59 at the PGA Illustrious Slam of Golf at Poipu Bay Golf Course in Island. The following year, Mickelson captured his second major at probity PGA Championship at Baltusrol deception a Monday final-round conclusion claim to inclement weather the one-time day. On the 18th concavity, Mickelson hit one of consummate trademark soft pitches from hollow greenside rough to within 18 inches (&#;mm) of the trophy and made his birdie halt finish at a 4-under-par trash of , one shot expand of Steve Elkington and Saint Bjørn. Mickelson captured his base major title the following resource at the Masters. He won his second green jacket tail end shooting a 3-under-par final partition, winning by two strokes award runner-up Tim Clark.^[29] This achieve mastery propelled him to 2nd let in in the Official World Sport Ranking (his career best), arse Woods, and ahead of Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen.

Collapse on final hole mine the U.S. Open

After winning combine majors in a row designation into the U.S. Open finish equal Winged Foot, Mickelson was unresponsive to join Ben Hogan skull Tiger Woods as the lone players to win three following majors (not necessarily in say publicly same calendar year). Mickelson was the joint leader going jerk the final round, but filth was part of a blustering finish to the tournament, bayou which he made major errors on the final hole lecturer ended up in a tie up for second place at +6 (), one shot behind Geoff Ogilvy.

Mickelson bogeyed the Ordinal hole. On the 17th pit, with the lead at +4, he missed the fairway imagine the left, and his grouping finished inside a garbage gawk at, from which he was even if a free drop; he parred the hole. He had a-one one-shot lead and was regulate the last group going assay the final hole.

Needing swell par on the 18th sturdy for a one-shot victory, Mickelson continued with his aggressive thing of play and chose confront hit a driver off description tee; he hit his attempt well left of the fairway (he had hit only glimmer of thirteen fairways previously underneath the round). The ball bounced off a corporate hospitality pressure and settled in an extra of trampled-down grass that was enclosed with trees. He certain to go for the leafy with his second shot, fairly than play it safe enthralled pitch out into the fairway. His ball then hit spick tree and did not impetus more than 50 yards (46&#;m). His next shot plugged encouragement the left greenside bunker. Recognized was unable to get campaign and down from there, derivative in a double bogey have a word with costing him a chance sell like hot cakes winning the championship outright resolve getting into an hole playoff with Ogilvy.^[30]

After his disappointing cessation, Mickelson said: "I'm still tight shock. I still can't deem I did that. This unified hurts more than any game because I had it won. Congratulations to Geoff Ogilvy number some great play. I hope against hope to thank all the family unit that supported me. The sole thing I can say evolution I'm sorry."^[31] He was plane more candid when he said: "I just can't believe Distracted did that. I'm such come idiot."^[32][33]

–

During the third round foothold the Ford Championship at Doral, Mickelson gave a spectator $ after his wayward tee attempt at the par-5 10th poverty-stricken the man's watch.^[34] Mickelson as well has shown other signs get on to appreciation. In after hearing class story of retired NFL competitor, Conrad Dobler, and his cover on ESPN explaining their struggles to pay medical bills, Mickelson volunteered to pay tuition representing Holli Dobler, Conrad Dobler's damsel, at Miami University in Town, Ohio.^[35]

Frustrated with his driving exactness, Mickelson made the decision worry April to leave longtime flourish coach, Rick Smith. He hence began working with Butch Harmon, a former coach of Mortal Woods and Greg Norman. Presume May 13, Mickelson came unearth a stroke back on excellence final round to shoot uncomplicated three-under 69 to win Say publicly Players Championship with an under-par

In the U.S. Open draw on Oakmont in June, Mickelson disappeared the cut (by a stroke) for the first time cage 31 majors after shooting 11 over par for 36 holes. He had been hampered moisten a wrist injury that was incurred while practicing in honourableness thick rough at Oakmont far-out few weeks before the tourney.

On September 3, , Mickelson won the Deutsche Bank Encouragement, which is the second FedEx Cup playoff event. On magnanimity final day, he was duplicate with Tiger Woods, who remote up finishing two strokes extreme Mickelson in a tie lay out second. It was the cap time that Mickelson was personal to beat Woods while description two stars were paired think up on the final day pleasant a tournament. The next daytime Mickelson announced that he would not be competing in rendering third FedEx Cup playoff cause. The day before his indifference, Mickelson said during a importune interview that PGA Tour Deputy, Tim Finchem, had not responded to advice he had obtain him on undisclosed issues.^[36]

In , Mickelson won the Crowne Yard hall Invitational at Colonial with a-ok −14, one shot ahead competition Tim Clark and Rod Pampling. Mickelson shot a first-round 65 to start off the game at −5. He ended honesty day tied with Brett Wetterich, two shots behind leader, Author Wagner.^[37] Mickelson shot a second-round 68, and the third rule out 65, overall, being −12 mean the first three rounds.^[38] Runoff the final hole, after be over absolutely horrendous tee shot, sand was in thick rough momentous trees in his way. Distinct players would have punched shred and taken their chances imprecision making par from the fairway with a good wedge chance. Instead, Mickelson pulled out great high-lofted wedge and hit reward approach shot over a landing on the green position he one-putted for the win.^[39]

In a Men's Vogue article, Mickelson recounted his effort to shake off twenty pounds (&#;kg) with righteousness help of trainer Sean Aviator. "Once the younger players in operation to come on tour, unquestionable realized that he had extort start working out to uphold longevity in his career," Flier said.^[40] Mickelson's regimen consisted entity increasing flexibility and power, rubbing away five smaller meals a expound, aerobic training, and carrying coronet own golf bag.^[41]

Mickelson was inducted into the National Italian English Sports Hall of Fame talk to ^[42]

Mickelson won his first expedition event when he defended surmount title at the Northern Vessel Open at Riviera, one blow ahead of Steve Stricker. Excellence victory was Mickelson's 35th choice tour; he surpassed Vijay Singh for second place on excellence current PGA Tour wins folder. A month later, he won his 36th, and his premier World Golf Championship, at leadership WGC-CA Championship with a one-stroke win over Nick Watney.

On May 20, it was declared that his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer, unthinkable Mickelson announced that he would suspend his PGA Tour everyday indefinitely. She would begin exploitation with major surgery as completely as the following two weeks. Mickelson was scheduled to marker the HP Byron Nelson Patronage May 21–24, and to keep safe his title May 28–31 damage the Crowne Plaza Invitational kismet Colonial, but withdrew from both events.^[43] During the final adorn of the BMW PGA Title, fellow golfer and family link John Daly wore bright blushing trousers in support of Mickelson's wife.^[44] Also, the next Weekday, at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, a "Pink Out" event was hosted, and greatness PGA Tour players all wore pink that day, to dialectics the Mickelson family.

On Might 31, Mickelson announced that do something would return to play strictness the PGA Tour in June at the St. Jude Standard and the U.S. Open, in that he had heard from blue blood the gentry doctors treating his wife go off her cancer had been perceived in an early stage.^[45] Mickelson shot a final round 70 at the U.S. Open enjoin recorded his fifth runner-up perfect at the U.S. Open. Dirt shared the lead after rule out eagle at the 13th sill beginning, but fell back with bogeys on 15 and 17; Filmmaker Glover captured the championship.

On July 6, it was declared that his mother Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer mount would have surgery at ethics same hospital where his helpmeet was treated.^[46] After hearing rendering news that his mother esoteric been diagnosed with breast swelling, Mickelson took another leave tactic absence from the tour, less The Open Championship at Turnberry. On July 28, Mickelson proclaimed he would return in Esteemed at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, interpretation week before the PGA Help at Hazeltine National Golf Truncheon.

In September, Mickelson won Rendering Tour Championship for the in a tick time in his career. Proscribed entered the final round quatern strokes off the lead, however shot a final round 65 to win the event next to three strokes over Tiger Woods.^[47] With the win, Mickelson ripened the season second behind Native land in the FedEx Cup standings.^[48]

On November 8, Mickelson won influence WGC-HSBC Champions by one bullet over Ernie Els in Shanghai.^[49]

Third Masters win

In , Mickelson won the Masters Tournament touch April 11 with a under-par performance, giving him a three-stroke win over Lee Westwood. Authority win marked the third Poet victory for Mickelson and queen fourth major championship overall.^[50] Depreciatory to Mickelson's win was unembellished dramatic run in the bag round on Saturday in which Mickelson, trailing leader Westwood rough five strokes as he in readiness his approach shot to loftiness 13th green, proceeded to be eagle, then to hole-out pull out eagle from yards at class next hole, the par-4 Ordinal, then on the next, class par-5 15th, to miss raptor from 81 yards by swimming pool inches. After tapping in promulgate birdie at 15, Mickelson, popular −12, led Westwood, at −11, who had bogeyed the Twelfth hole and failed to compute on the par-5 13th, sinking abatement for par.

Westwood recaptured on the rocks one-stroke lead by the specify of the round, but authority momentum carried forward for Mickelson into round 4, where do something posted a bogey-free 67 detain Westwood's No other pursuer was able to keep pace get tangled the end, though K. Tabulate. Choi and Anthony Kim completed notable charges. For good par, Mickelson birdied the final hollow and memorably greeted his deferment wife, Amy, with a lengthened hug and kiss.^[51]

For many fans, Mickelson's finish in the head-to-head was especially poignant, given wander Amy had been suffering strange breast cancer during the above year. Mary Mickelson, Phil's stop talking, was also dealing with human. CBS Sports announcer Jim Nantz's call of the final shuttle putt, "That's a win unpolluted the family," was seen unreceptive many as capturing the instant well.^[52]

Tiger Woods had a dramaturgical return to competitive play provision a scandal-ridden week absence; sharp-tasting was in close contention from the beginning to the end of for the lead and seasoned accomplished tied with Choi for Quaternary at − Mickelson and starkness showed exciting play over interpretation weekend, and the Masters abstruse strong television ratings in loftiness United States, ranking third all-time to Woods's historic wins sieve and ^[53] Mickelson's win compare him second only to Mother country in major championships among ruler competitive contemporaries, moving him at the of Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, and Pádraig Harrington, with connect major championships each.

Remainder chief

Mickelson, one of the favorites for the U.S. Open damage Pebble Beach, shot 75 skull 66 on Thursday and Fri to sit two shots cart off the lead. However, two weekend scores of 73 gave him a T4 finish. During say publicly remainder of the season, Mickelson had multiple opportunities to junction the number one player hoard the world rankings following glory travails of Tiger Woods. In spite of that, a string of disappointing finishes by Mickelson saw the consider one spot eventually go make something go with a swing Englishman Lee Westwood.

In rendering days leading up to nobility PGA Championship at Whistling Sound, Mickelson announced he had archaic diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Do something added that he had in progress medical treatment and had grow a vegetarian in hopes tension aiding his recovery. He serviceable that both his short- standing long-term prognosis were good, give it some thought the condition should have negation long-term effect on his golfing career, and that he mattup well. He also stated digress the arthritis may go minor road permanent remission after one epoch of medical treatment. He went on to finish the patronage T12, five shots behind conqueror Martin Kaymer.

Mickelson started her highness season at the Farmers Safety measure anticipa Open at Torrey Pines Sport Course. He shot 67–69–68 endure was tied for the 54 hole lead with Bill Haas. Mickelson needed to hole give on the 18th hole replace eagle from 74 yards abut force a playoff with Bubba Watson. He hit it hyperbole 4 feet and Watson won the tournament.

On April 3, Mickelson won the Shell Metropolis Open with a under-par, three-stroke win over Scott Verplank. Mickelson rose to No. 3 weight the world ranking, while Human Woods fell to No. 7. Mickelson had not been compacted above Woods since the period prior to the Masters Match.

At The Open Championship, Mickelson recorded just his second top-ten finish in 18 tournaments uncongenial tying for second with Dustin Johnson. His front nine 30 put him briefly in swell tie for the lead substitution eventual champion Darren Clarke. But, putting problems caused him pare fade from contention toward goodness end, to finish in top-notch tie for second place.

40th career PGA Tour win

Mickelson made his debut at say publicly Humana Challenge and finished fixed for 49th. He missed significance cut at the Farmers Guaranty Open after shooting rounds lacking 77 and In the concluding round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Mickelson rallied from six shots back, win the tournament by two strokes with a final-round score holdup 8-under 64 and a four-round total of ^[54] The ensnare marked his 40th career success on the PGA Tour. Say publicly following week at Riviera Homeland Club, Mickelson lost the Yankee Trust Open in a tripartite playoff.^[55] He had held position lead or a share spick and span it from day one till the back nine on Use when Bill Haas posted rendering clubhouse lead at seven gain somebody's support par. Mickelson holed a meter birdie putt on the terminal regulation hole to force neat as a pin playoff alongside Haas and Keegan Bradley. Haas however won description playoff with a foot bird putt on the second playoff hole. The second-place finish niminy-piminy Mickelson back into the world's top ^[56]

Mickelson finished tied select third at the Masters. Equate opening the tournament with unblended two-over-par 74, he shot 68–66 in the next two guarding and ended up one move behind leader Peter Hanson uninviting Saturday night. Mickelson had straighten up poor start to his forgiveness round, scoring a triple-bogey in the way that he hit his ball great to the left of high-mindedness green on the par-3 Ordinal hole, hitting the stand essential landing in a bamboo workroom. This ended up being Mickelson's only score over par mosquito the whole round, and good taste ended with a score describe eight-under overall. Earlier in nobility tournament, he received widespread consecrate for being present to gaze at Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, endure Gary Player hit the solemn opening tee-shots, nearly seven before Mickelson's own tee time.^[57]

Mickelson made a charge during prestige final round at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, but bogeyed the 17th and 18th, definitive T-7th. He then withdrew implant the Memorial Tournament, citing weird fatigue, after a first-round Mickelson was paired with Tiger Territory and Bubba Watson at depiction U.S. Open.^[58] He fought manage make the cut and reach the summit of Tth. After taking a amalgamate of weeks off, he diseased in the Greenbrier Classic. Position problems meant a second well thoughtout missed cut at the Bullbrier and a third missed cut off at Open Championship, shooting (11 over par). He finished Trd at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Let go then finished Tth at honesty PGA Championship.

To start birth FedEx Cup Playoffs, Mickelson through T38 at The Barclays, +1 for the tournament. He fastened with Tiger Woods, Zach Lexicographer, and five other players. Addition this tournament, he started cheery the claw putting grip column the greens.^[59] At the adhere to event, the Deutsche Bank Patronage, he finished the tournament be dissimilar a −14, tied for Ordinal with Dustin Johnson.^[60] At class BMW Championship, Mickelson posted top-hole −16 for the first join rounds, one of those guard being a −8, On illustriousness final day, Mickelson shot top-notch −2, 70, to finish gauche for 2nd, with Lee Westwood, two shots behind leader, roost back-to-back winner, Rory McIlroy.^[60] Exceed the Tour Championship, he distressed up finishing tied for 15th.^[60] He went on to scheme a 3–1 record at honourableness Ryder Cup; however, the Army team lost the event.

Mickelson began the season in Jan by playing in the Humana Challenge, where he finished T37 at −^[60] His next exhibition was the following week currency his home event near San Diego at the Farmers Warranty Open. Mickelson endured a discouraging tournament, finishing T51, shooting shrinkage four rounds in the 70s.

In the first round be fond of the Waste Management Phoenix Break out, Mickelson tied his career-low there of He made seven birdies in his first nine holes and needed a birdie go bust the 18th hole to selfsame the PGA Tour record beat somebody to it However, his foot birdie swing on the final hole liplike out, resulting in him nonexistent out by a single inoculation on making only the 6th round of 59 in PGA Tour history. Mickelson led rectitude tournament wire-to-wire and completed practised four-shot win over Brandt Snedeker for his 41st PGA Materialize victory and 3rd Phoenix Direct title. Mickelson's score of under-par tied Mark Calcavecchia's tournament grading record.^[61] He also moved wager inside the world's top 10 after falling down as remote as number

Sixth runner-up closing stages at the U.S. Open

At dignity U.S. Open at Merion, Mickelson entered the final round convincing by one stroke after aim of (−1) over the foremost three days, but he in motion the final round by three-putting the 3rd and 5th holes for double-bogeys to fall concluded of the lead. He regained the lead at the par-4 10th when he holed coronet second shot from the insist for an eagle. However, grand misjudgment at the short par-3 13th saw him fly goodness green and make a gendarme to slip one behind empress Justin Rose. Another bogey followed at the 15th, before hardly missing a birdie putt abut the 16th that would receive tied Rose. Mickelson could put together make a birdie at nobility 17th and after a impenetrable drive on the 18th, unquestionable could not hole his tumble from short of the callow, which led to a farewell bogey.

Mickelson ended up completing tied for second with Jason Day, two strokes behind Justin Rose. It was the ordinal runner-up finish of Mickelson's lifetime at the U.S. Open, apartment house event record and only go beyond Jack Nicklaus's seven runner-up finishes at The Open Championship.^[62] Name the event, Mickelson called decency loss heartbreaking and said "this is tough to swallow associate coming so close I change like this was as moderately good an opportunity I could present for and to not force to it it hurts."^[63] It was also Father's Day, which occurrence to be his birthday.

Fifth major title at the Environmental Championship

The week before The Smidge Championship, Mickelson warmed up famine the event by winning cap first tournament on British defile at the Scottish Open pile on July 14, after a sudden-death playoff against Branden Grace. Stern this victory, Mickelson spoke remove his confidence ahead of her highness participation in the following week's major championship. Mickelson said: "I've never felt more excited dire into The Open. I don't think there's a better method to get ready for far-out major than playing well excellence week before and getting smash into contention. Coming out on summit just gives me more confidence."^[64]

The following week, Mickelson won potentate fifth major title on July 21 at the Open Encouragement (often referred to as description British Open) Muirfield Golf Associations in Scotland; the Open Backing is the oldest of illustriousness four major tournaments in trained golf. This was the foremost time in history that lone had won both the Caledonian Open and The Open Backing in the same year.^[65] Mickelson birdied four of the persist six holes in a fanciful final round of 66 verge on win the title by yoke strokes.^[66] He shed tears impersonation the 18th green after end his round. Mickelson later said: "I played arguably the finest round of my career, at an earlier time shot the round of discomfited life. The range of sentiment I feel are as backwoods apart as possible after failure the U.S. Open. But order about have to be resilient worry this game."^[67] In an grill before the Open, Mickelson uttered, "Two years removed from roam win, I still can't choke back how much it means loom me."^[68]

and Inconsistent form be first close calls in majors

Mickelson miss the cut at the Poet for the first time on account of He failed to contend smack of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst in his first bid fit in complete the career grand fling closed. Mickelson's lone top of significance PGA Tour season came mad the year's final major, birth PGA Championship at Valhalla. Mickelson shot rounds of to ending solo second, one shot remain world number one Rory McIlroy.

Prior to the Masters, Mickelson's best finish in was a-okay tie for 17th. At righteousness Masters, Mickelson shot rounds late to finish tied for erelong with Justin Rose, four shots behind champion Jordan Spieth. Birth second-place finish was Mickelson's onetenth such finish in a greater, placing him second all-time sui generis incomparabl to Jack Nicklaus in delay regard.

At The Open Patronage, Mickelson shot rounds of direct was eight shots behind, unreachable the top forty. In description final round, Mickelson birdied honesty 15th hole to move return to 10 under and within link of the lead. After shipshape and bristol fashion missed foot (&#;m) birdie swing on 16, Mickelson hit climax drive on the infamous Hold back Hole (17th) at the acclaimed Old Course at St Naturalist onto a second-floor balcony sharing the Old Course Hotel. Probity out-of-bounds drive lead to a- triple-bogey 7 that sent Mickelson tumbling out of contention.

Later in the year, it was announced that Mickelson would quit longtime swing coach Butch Harmon, feeling as though he desired to hear a new slant on things.^[69]

New swing coach

After leaving Butch Harmon, Mickelson chartered Andrew Getson of Grayhawk Sport Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, assail serve as his new wield coach. The two worked be obsessed with heavily in the offseason secure get Mickelson's swing back.

Under Getson's guidance, Mickelson made her majesty debut at the CareerBuilder Question. He shot rounds of lowly finish in a tie engage in third place at under-par. Deject was only Mickelson's fifth top-five finish since his win draw back the Open Championship. The third-place finish was Mickelson's highest come to an end in his first worldwide initiate of a calendar year by reason of he won the same happening to begin the season.

At the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Mickelson shot rounds of strengthen finish in solo second talk, a shot behind Vaughn Composer. Mickelson lipped out a five-foot birdie putt to force dinky playoff on the 72nd largely. He entered the final drop by with a two-stroke lead, coronate first hole lead since decency U.S. Open and was in quest of to end a winless eagerness dating back 52 worldwide gossip to the Open Championship.^[70]

Mickelson projectile a 63 in the split round of The Open Promotion at Royal Troon. The swivel round set a new course top secret and matched the previous important championship record for lowest intricate. Mickelson had a foot (&#;m) birdie putt that narrowly lost on the final hole hit upon set a new major promotion scoring record of ^[71] Perform followed this up with clever 69 in the second usable for a 10 under standard total and a one-shot recoil over Henrik Stenson going reply the weekend. In the position round, Mickelson shot a one-under 70 for a total hold sway over 11 under par to joint the final round one ball back of Stenson. Despite Mickelson's bogey-free 65 in the ending round, Stenson shot 63 collect win by three shots. Mickelson finished 11 strokes clear be more or less 3rd place, a major patronage record for a runner-up. Mickelson's total set a record reckoning for a runner-up in say publicly British Open, and only trails Mickelson's at the PGA Backup as the lowest total gross a runner-up in major promotion history.

Recovery from surgeries

In the fall of , Mickelson had two sports hernia surgeries. Those in the golf general public expected him to miss unwarranted time recovering, however his undreamed of return at the CareerBuilder Close the eyes to was a triumphant one, beseeching to a T finish. Description next week, in San Diego, he narrowly missed an raptor putt on the 18th channel on Sunday that would enjoy got him to 8-under standard instead posting −7 () say you will finish T14 at the Farmers Insurance Open. The following workweek, at the Waste Management Constellation Open, which he has won three times, he surged smart contention following a Saturday Do something played his first nine holes in 4-under 32 and carriage his name to the ascendance of the leaderboard. However, potentate charge faltered with bogeys reduced 11, 12, 14, 15, dispatch a double bogey at significance driveable 17th hole. He stumbled with a final round 71, still earning a T retain, for his sixth straight go to town finish on tour.

Mickelson came close to winning again exploit the FedEx St. Jude Typical where he had finished terminate second place the previous vintage to Daniel Berger. He in progress the final round four strokes behind leaders but he ostentatious played himself into contention. Succeeding a birdie at the Ordinal hole he vaulted to nobleness top of leaderboard but perform trouble on the 12th fail. His tee shot carried smart of bounds and his domicile shot hit the water, deadpan he had to make on the rocks long putt to salvage triple-bogey. He managed to get single shot back, but he mature three shots behind winner Berger, in ninth place, for influence second straight year.

Two weeks later he withdrew from righteousness U.S. Open to attend circlet daughter's high school graduation. Ingenious week later, his longtime attendant Jim (Bones) Mackay left Mickelson in a mutual agreement.^[72] Mickelson then missed the cut downy both The Open Championship talented the PGA Championship.

On Sep 6, days after posting coronate best finish of the seasoned of T6 at the Dingle Technologies Championship, Mickelson was forename as a captain's pick engage in the Presidents Cup.^[73] This retained a streak of 23 serial USA teams in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, dating back to

– Winless seam ends

On March 4, , Mickelson ended a winless drought put off dated back to , indifferent to capturing his third WGC backup at the WGC-Mexico Championship, information flow a final-round score of 66 and a total score be expeditious for − Mickelson birdied two notice his last four holes countryside had a lengthy putt skin win outright on the 72nd hole, but tied with Justin Thomas. He defeated Thomas handiness the first extra hole method a sudden-death playoff with natty par. After Thomas had flown the green, Mickelson had uncut birdie to win the playoff which lipped out. Thomas nevertheless could not get up keep from down for par, meaning Mickelson claimed the championship. The stand-in was Mickelson's 43rd on picture PGA Tour and his cardinal since winning the Open Championship.^[74] He also became the opening winner of a WGC sponsor, at age ^[75]

In the base round of the U.S. Ecological, Mickelson incurred a two-stroke discipline in a controversial incident perfect the 13th hole when stylishness hit his ball with examinationing while it was still touching. He ended up shooting 81 (+11). His former coach Brave Harmon thought Mickelson should be blessed with been disqualified.^[76][77]

Mickelson was a captain's pick for Team USA resort to the Ryder Cup, held intimate Paris between September 28 swallow ^[78] Paired with Bryson DeChambeau in the Friday afternoon foursomes, they lost 5 and 4 to Europe's Sergio García arena Alex Norén. In the Attractive thorough singles match, Mickelson lost 4 and 2 to Francesco Molinari, as Team USA slumped secure a to defeat.^[79]

On November 23, , Mickelson won the pay-per-view event, Capital One's The Echelon. This was a $9,, winner-takes-all match against Tiger Woods guarantee Shadow Creek Golf Course make money on Las Vegas. Mickelson needed a handful of extra holes to beat Surroundings, which he did by stab a four-foot putt after Realm missed a seven-foot putt multiplicity the 22nd hole.^[80]

In his position start of the calendar best, Mickelson won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, shooting a bogey-free final round 65 to excited Paul Casey by three strokes. The win was Mickelson's Fortyfourth career title on the PGA Tour, and his fifth enthral Pebble Beach, tying Mark O'Meara for most victories in probity event.^[81] At 48 years look up to age, he also became say publicly oldest winner of that obstruct.

PGA Tour season roost PGA Tour Champions debut

In Dec , Mickelson announced via Chirp that "after turning down opportunities to go to the Nucleus East for many years" fiasco would play in the Arab International tournament on the Denizen Tour and would miss Purpose Management Phoenix Open for rectitude first time since However, rulership decision to visit and amusement in Saudi Arabia was out criticized for ignoring the peaceful human rights abuses in glory nation.^[82] Mickelson went on cross-reference finish the February event bound 1 for third.^[83]

Mickelson finished 3rd fuming the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and tied for 2nd note the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Mickelson was the first sportswoman over 50 to finish epoxy resin the top five of clean up World Golf Championship event. Take action was ultimately eliminated from nobility FedEx Cup Playoffs following Dignity Northern Trust at TPC Beantown in August One week next, Mickelson made his debut flipside the PGA Tour Champions. Unwind won the Charles Schwab Mound at Ozarks National in climax first tournament after becoming preferable for PGA Tour Champions team his 50th birthday on June 16, He was the Ordinal player to win their introduction tournament on tour.^[84] Mickelson's thread total tied the PGA String Champions all-time record for spick three-day event.

In October , Mickelson won the Dominion Faculty Charity Classic in Virginia. Impersonate was his second win disintegration as many starts on class PGA Tour Champions.^[85]

The ahead major champion

In February , Mickelson was attempting to become dignity first player in PGA Structure Champions history to win ruler first three tournaments on way. However, he fell short just right the Cologuard Classic, finishing current a T position with spruce score of 4 under par.^[86]

In May , Mickelson held influence hole lead at the PGA Championship at the Kiawah Key Golf Resort in South Carolina, leading Brooks Koepka by defer shot with one day chance on play. He shot a final-round 73 to capture the trial affray, defeating Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen by two strokes, becoming loftiness oldest major champion; at ^[5] As Mickelson walked down class fairway following an excellent more shot from the left depths on the 18th hole, zillions of fans engulfed him, cop him walking towards the pit constantly tipping his hat predominant giving the thumbs up merriment the crowd as they elevated. However, the massive tumult addict people meant playing partner Brooks Koepka was stranded in say publicly sea of people, and reach difficulties, he managed to cavity the green to finish nobleness hole. Mickelson eventually emerged unfamiliar the crowd and two-putted lay out par, finishing the tournament view 6-under, besting the field rough two strokes.^[87]

In October , Mickelson won for the third hang on in four career starts store the PGA Tour Champions. Mickelson shot a final round 4-under-par 68 to win the early Constellation Furyk & Friends stop trading Miguel Ángel Jiménez in City, Florida.^[88]

In November , Mickelson won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cupful Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, additional a final round six-under measure This victory was Mickelson's zone win in six career by degrees on PGA Tour Champions.^[89]

Cardinal Golf

Mickelson told a journalist digress despite Saudi Arabians being "scary motherfuckers" who had murdered journo Jamal Khashoggi and executed facetious people, he supported the Saudi-backed LIV Golf because it offered an opportunity to reshape nobleness PGA Tour.^[90] In response unity these comments, Mickelson lost sponsors Amstel Light and KPMG.^[90] Mickelson announced he would be stepping away from golf to fork out time with his family perch would miss the Masters Tournament.^[90] In May, he also confident to withdraw from the PGA Championship^[91] which he won buy ^[92] On June 6, , LIV Golf CEO Greg Frenchwoman announced that Mickelson will grand gesture in the first event bid the LIV Golf Invitational Keep in shape beginning on June 9, ^[93] On June 9, , blue blood the gentry first day of the Cardinal Golf Invitational London, the PGA Tour suspended Mickelson and 16 other current and former materialize members for participating in organized conflicting event without permission the tour.^[94]

At the Masters Combat, Mickelson made what many believed as the performance of illustriousness tournament, beginning the final light of day ten shots off of nobility lead, and finishing in fixed second. Shooting a 65, Mickelson equaled his lowest score available Augusta almost 27 years only. In the last seven holes, he scored five birdies subject two pars.

Playing style

As simple competitor, Mickelson's playing style testing described by many as "aggressive" and highly social.^[26][95][96] His plan toward difficult shots (bad ballyhoo, obstructions) would tend to designate considered risky.^[97]

Mickelson has also antiquated characterized by his powerful endure sometimes inaccurate driver, but fulfil excellent short game draws prestige most positive reviews, most dispense all his daring "Phil flop" shot in which a capacious swing with a high-lofted cram against a tight lie flap a ball high into representation air for a short distance.^[98]

In his prime, Mickelson was habitually in the top 10 suspend scoring, and he led depiction PGA Tour in birdie norm as recently as ^[99]

Earnings contemporary endorsements

Although ranked second on influence PGA Tour's all-time money list^[] of tournament prize money won, Mickelson earns far more running away endorsements than from prize impoverish. According to one estimate^[] advice earnings (comprising salary, winnings, charity, endorsements, and appearances), Mickelson was then the second-highest paid jogger in the United States, inheritance an income of over $62 million, $53 million of which came from endorsements. In , Forbes estimated Mickelson's annual wealth was $51 million.^[] Major companies which Mickelson currently endorses stature ExxonMobil (Mickelson and wife Scandal started a teacher sponsorship pool with the company), Rolex, scold Mizzen+Main. Mickelson's sponsorship with Callaway Golf is currently "paused" nearby will be re-evaluated at systematic later date.^[] After being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in , Mickelson was treated with Enbrel and began endorsing the pharmaceutical. He has been previously advocated by Titleist, KPMG, Workday, Drawing pin Point, Barclays, Amstel Light enthralled Ford.

In , Mickelson left out a significant number of sponsors including KPMG, Amstel Light, ahead Workday after comments he thankful about the Saudi-backed golf corresponding person, LIV Golf. In an investigate, he stated that Saudis responsibility "scary motherfuckers to get confusing with We know they join [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and own a horrible record on body rights. They execute people run faster than there for being gay. Conspiratorial all of this, why would I even consider it? Now this is a once-in-a-lifetime break to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."^[][]

Business

As a businessman, Mickelson is the co-founder of Result in Wellness with Dave Phillips, who is Jon Rahm's coach add-on also co-founder of the Performance Institute. For Wellness sells functional food and beverage proceeds, including the supplement that Mickelson adds to his coffee ^[]

On May 30, , The Eerie Street Journal reported that righteousness FBI and U.S. Securities innermost Exchange Commission (SEC) were probing Mickelson and associates of for insider trading in Bleach and Dean Foods stock.^[][] Mickelson denied any wrongdoing.^[] The first investigation concluded without any impost related to Clorox. However, Mickelson was still under investigation confirm trades in Dean Foods breakout which he profited more prevail over $,^[][] On May 19, , Mickelson was named as neat relief defendant in a Dry complaint alleging insider trading however avoided criminal charges in excellent parallel case brought in probity Federal District Court for justness Southern District of New York.^[] The action results from trades in Dean Foods in hut conjunction with confidential information incomplete by Thomas Davis, a plague director of Dean Foods Convention, who tipped his friend mount "professional sports bettor" Billy Walters.^[]

The SEC alleged that Walters pick up Mickelson material, nonpublic information trouble Dean Foods,^[] and the Tick fined Mickelson the equivalent show the $, profit he uncomplicated from trading Dean Foods uninspired as well as interest remind you of $,^[] In , Walters was convicted of making $40 mint on Davis's private information cause the collapse of to by a federal cost. At that time, it was also noted that Mickelson locked away "once owed nearly $2 brand-new in gambling debts to" Walters.^[]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (57)

PGA Tour golds (45)