Phil Mickelson

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Phil Mickelson

Mickelson at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.
Personal information
Full name Philip Alfred Mickelson
Nickname Lefty
Born (1970-06-16) June 16, 1970 (age 42)
San Diego, California
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st)
Nationality  United States
Residence Rancho Santa Fe, California
Spouse Amy (m. 1996)
Children Amanda (b. 1999), Sophia (b. 2001), Evan (b. 2003)
Career
College Arizona State University
Turned professional 1992
Current tour(s) PGA Tour (joined 1992)
Professional wins 49
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour 41 (9th all time)
European Tour 7
Challenge Tour 1
Other 5
Best results in Major Championships
(Wins: 4)
Masters Tournament Won: 2004, 2006, 2010
U.S. Open 2nd/T2: 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009
The Open Championship T2: 2011
PGA Championship Won: 2005
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 2012 (member page)
Haskins Award 1990, 1991, 1992

Philip Alfred Mickelson (born June 16, 1970) is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 41 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed. Mickelson was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame in November 2011 and was inducted in May 2012.[1]

Contents

Early years [edit]

Mickelson was born in San Diego, California, to parents Phil Mickelson Sr. (an airline pilot and former naval aviator)[2] and Mary Mickelson. He was raised there and in Scottsdale, Arizona. Although right-handed otherwise, he plays golf left-handed, as he learned by watching his right-handed father swing and mirroring it.[3] Mickelson began golf under his father's instruction before starting school. Phil Sr.'s work schedule as a commercial pilot allowed them to play together several times a week and an extensive practice area in their San Diego backyard allowed young Phil to hone his creative short game.[2] Mickelson graduated from the University of San Diego High School in 1988.

College golf [edit]

Mickelson attended Arizona State University in Tempe on a golf scholarship and graduated in 1992. While at ASU, he became the face of amateur golf in the United States, capturing three NCAA individual championships and three Haskins Awards (1990, 1991, 1992) as the outstanding collegiate golfer. He was the second collegiate golfer to earn first-team All-American honors all four years. In addition in 1990 he became the first left-hander to win the U.S. Amateur title. Perhaps his greatest achievement, however, came in 1991 at age 20 when he won his first PGA Tour event, the Northern Telecom Open, in Tucson. He did so as an amateur, becoming only the sixth player in PGA history to accomplish this feat, and the first since Scott Verplank, who won the 1985 Western Open. Other players to accomplish this feat include Doug Sanders, who won the 1956 Canadian Open, and Gene Littler, who won the 1954 San Diego Open.[4] No one has since matched this achievement.

Professional career [edit]

Early professional career [edit]

Mickelson turned professional in 1992 following his graduation. He was able to bypass the Tour's qualifying process (Q-School) because of his 1991 Tucson win, which earned him a two-year exemption. He continued to win many PGA Tour tournaments, including the Byron Nelson Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf in 1996, the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 1998, the Colonial National Invitation in 2000 and the Greater Hartford Open in 2001 and again in 2002. He also won the Buick Invitational in 2000, defeating Tiger Woods and ending his streak of consecutive tournament victories at six. After his win, Mickelson said, "I didn't want to be the bad guy. I wasn't trying to end the streak per se. I was just trying to win the golf tournament."[5]

Mickelson has been capable of scoring very low for many seasons. He scored a career-low 59 for 18 holes, at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Poipu Bay Golf Course in Hawaii, on November 24, 2004.

Despite these accomplishments, for many years Mickelson was often described as the "best golfer never to win a major".[6] Mickelson often played well in majors: in the five-year span between 1999 and 2003, he had six second-place or third-place finishes, and he holds the record for the most second-place finishes in U.S. Open history with five.

Since early 1993, Mickelson's caddy has been Jim "Bones" Mackay.[7] Mickelson has a lifetime exemption on the PGA Tour, for being a tour member for over 15 years and having 20 plus tour victories. Mickelson has spent over 700 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings[8] Despite his success, Mickelson has never held the World #1 ranking.[9][10]

2004–06: First three major wins [edit]

Mickelson at the Open Championship (2006).

Mickelson's first major championship win came at the 2004 Masters, where he won with an 18-foot final hole birdie putt, defeating Ernie Els in a Sunday back-nine duel in which the two traded birdies and eagles back and forth. In addition to getting the "majors monkey" off his back, this made him only the third golfer with a left-handed swing to win a major, the others being New Zealander Sir Bob Charles who won the The Open Championship in 1963 and Canadian Mike Weir who won The Masters in 2003. (Like Mickelson, Weir is a right-hander who plays left-handed.)

Just prior to the 2004 Ryder Cup, Mickelson was dropped from his long-standing contract with Titleist/Acushnet Golf, when he took heat for a voicemail message he left for a Callaway Golf executive. In it, he praised their driver and golf ball and thanked them for their help in getting some equipment for his brother. This memo was played to all of their salesmen, and eventually found its way back to Titleist. He was then let out of his multi-year deal with Titleist 16 months early, and signed on with Callaway Golf, his current equipment sponsor. He endured a great deal of ridicule and scrutiny from the press and fellow Ryder Cup members for his equipment change so close to the Ryder Cup matches. He faltered at the 2004 Ryder Cup, going 1-3-0, but refused to blame the sudden change in equipment or his practice methods for his performance.[11]

The following year, in a Monday final round conclusion forced by weather, Mickelson captured his second career major championship with his victory at the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol. On the 18th hole, Mickelson hit one of his trademark soft pitches from deep greenside rough to within a foot and a half of the cup, and then made his birdie to finish at a 4-under-par total of 276, one shot ahead of Steve Elkington and Thomas Bjørn.

Mickelson captured his third major championship the following spring by winning the 2006 Masters. Mickelson won his second Green Jacket after shooting a 3-under-par final round, winning by two strokes over his nearest rival Tim Clark. This win propelled him to 2nd place in the Official World Golf Rankings (his career best), behind Tiger Woods and ahead of Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen.

2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot [edit]

After winning two major championships in a row heading into the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, Mickelson was bidding to join Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods as the only players to win three consecutive professional majors. Mickelson was the joint-leader going into the final round, but he was part of a wild finish to the tournament, in which he ended up in a tie for second place at +6 (286), one shot behind Australian champion Geoff Ogilvy.

On the 71st hole, Mickelson, with the lead at +4, missed the fairway to the left, and his drive finished inside a garbage can, from which he was granted a free drop; he parred the hole, but his bogey on the previous hole reduced his lead to one shot heading to the final hole.

Needing a par on the 72nd hole for a one-shot victory, Mickelson chose to hit a driver off the tee on the final hole, and hit it well left of the fairway (he had only hit two of thirteen fairways previously in the round). The ball bounced off a corporate hospitality tent and settled in an area of trampled-down grass that was enclosed with trees. He decided to go for the green with his second shot, rather than play it safe and pitch out into the fairway. His ball then hit a tree, and did not advance more than 50 yards. His next shot plugged into the left greenside bunker. He was unable to get up and down from there, resulting in a double bogey, and costing him a chance of winning the championship outright or getting into a playoff with Ogilvy.

After his final round, Mickelson said: "I'm still in shock. I still can't believe I did that. This one hurts more than any tournament because I had it won. Congratulations to Geoff Ogilvy on some great play. I want to thank all the people that supported me. The only thing I can say is I'm sorry."[12]

2006–08 [edit]

Mickelson at 2007 Barclays Singapore Open.

During the third round of the 2006 Ford Championship at Doral, Mickelson gave a spectator $200 after his wayward tee shot at the par-5 10th broke the man's watch.[13]

Mickelson also has shown other signs of appreciation. In 2007 after hearing the story of retired NFL player, Conrad Dobler, and his family on ESPN explaining their struggles to pay medical bills, Mickelson volunteered to pay tuition for Holli Dobler, Conrad Dobler's daughter, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.[14]

Frustrated with his driving accuracy, Mickelson made the decision in April 2007 to leave longtime swing coach, Rick Smith. He currently works with Butch Harmon, a former coach of Greg Norman and Tiger Woods. On May 13, 2007, Mickelson came from a stroke back on the final round to shoot a three-under 69 to win The Players Championship with an 11-under-par 277. This Mother's Day win was his first without his wife and children present.

In the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont, after shooting 11 over par after 2 rounds, Mickelson missed the cut (by a stroke) for the first time in 31 majors, since The Open Championship in 1999 at Carnoustie. He had been hampered by a wrist injury that was incurred while practicing in the thick rough at Oakmont a few weeks before the tournament.

On September 3, 2007, Mickelson won the Deutsche Bank Championship which is the second FedEx Cup playoff event. On the final day, he was paired with Tiger Woods, who ended up finishing two strokes behind Mickelson in a tie for second. It was the first time Mickelson was able to beat Woods while paired together on the final day of a tournament. The next day Mickelson announced that he would not be competing in the third FedEx Cup playoff event. The day before his withdrawal, Mickelson said during a television interview that PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem, had not responded to advice he had given him on undisclosed issues.[15]

In 2008, Mickelson won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial with a –14, one shot ahead of Tim Clark and Rod Pampling. Mickelson shot a first-round 65 to start off the tournament at –5. He ended the day tied with Brett Wetterich, two shots behind leader, Johnson Wagner.[16] Mickelson shot a second round 68, and the third round 65, overall, being –12 for the first three rounds.[17] On the final hole, he hit his approach shot over a tree, landing on the green where he one-putted for the win.[18] His final score was -14.

In a Men's Vogue article Mickelson recounted his effort to lose 20 pounds with the help of trainer Sean Cochran. "Once the younger players started to come on tour, he realized that he had to start working out to maintain longevity in his career," Cochran said.[19] Mickelson's regimen consisted of increasing flexibility and power, eating five smaller meals a day, aerobic training, and carrying his own golf bag.[20]

Mickelson was inducted into the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.[21]

2009 [edit]

Mickelson won for the first time in 2009 by defending his title at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club. He finished one stroke ahead of Steve Stricker. It was Mickelson's 35th win on tour; he surpassed Vijay Singh for second place on the current PGA Tour wins list. A month later, he won his 36th title on the tour, and his first World Golf Championship, at the 2009 WGC-CA Championship with a one- stroke win over Nick Watney.

On May 20, 2009, it was announced that Mickelson's wife, Amy, was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Mickelson announced he would suspend his PGA Tour schedule indefinitely. She would begin treatment with major surgery as early as the following two weeks. Mickelson was scheduled to play the HP Byron Nelson Championship May 21–24, and to defend his title May 28–31 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, but withdrew from both events.[22] During the final round of the 2009 BMW PGA Championship, fellow golfer and family friend John Daly wore bright pink trousers in support of Mickelson's wife.[23] Also, the next Saturday, at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, a "Pink Out" event was hosted, and the PGA Tour players all wore pink that day, to support the Mickelson family. On May 31, Mickelson announced that he would return to play on the PGA Tour in June at the St. Jude Classic and the U.S. Open, since he had heard from the doctors treating his wife that her cancer had been detected in an early stage.[24]

Mickelson shot a final round 70 at the 2009 U.S. Open and recorded his fifth runner-up finish at the U.S. Open, a record. He shared the lead after an eagle at the 13th hole, but fell back with bogeys on 15 and 17; Lucas Glover captured the championship.

On July 6, 2009 it was announced that his mother, Mary Mickelson, was diagnosed with breast cancer and would have surgery at the same hospital where his wife was treated.[25] After hearing the news of his mother now being diagnosed with breast cancer, Mickelson took another leave of absence from the Tour, missing The Open Championship. On July 28, Mickelson announced he would return to the PGA Tour in August at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the week before the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

In September, Mickelson won The Tour Championship for the second time in his career. He entered the final round four strokes off the lead, but shot a final round 65 to win the event by three strokes over Tiger Woods.[26] With the win, Mickelson finished the season second behind Woods in the 2009 FedEx Cup standings.[27]

On November 8, 2009, Mickelson won the WGC-HSBC Champions by one shot over Ernie Els in Shanghai.[28]

2010: Third Masters win [edit]

On April 11, 2010, Mickelson won the 2010 Masters Tournament with a 16-under-par performance, giving him a three-stroke win over Lee Westwood in Augusta, Georgia. The win marked the third Masters victory for Mickelson and his fourth major championship overall.[29] Critical to Mickelson's win was a dramatic run in the third round on Saturday in which Mickelson, trailing leader Westwood by five strokes as he prepared his approach shot to the 13th green, proceeded to make eagle, then to hole-out for eagle from 141 yards at the next hole, the par 4 14th, then on the next, the par 5 15th, to miss eagle from 81 yards by mere inches. After tapping in for birdie at 15, Mickelson, at -12, led Westwood, at -11, who had bogeyed hole 12 and failed to capitalize on the par 5 13th, settling for par.

Westwood did recapture the one-stroke lead by round's end, but the momentum carried forward for Mickelson into round 4, where he posted a bogey-free 67 to Westwood's 71, and no other pursuer was able to keep pace to the end, though K.J. Choi and Anthony Kim made notable charges. For good measure, Mickelson birdied the final hole and memorably greeted his waiting wife, Amy, with a prolonged hug and kiss.[30]

For many fans, this finish to the tournament was especially poignant, given Amy's suffering from breast cancer for the preceding year; Mary Mickelson, Phil's mother, was also dealing with cancer. CBS Sports announcer Jim Nantz's call of the final birdie putt, "That's a win for the family," was seen by many as capturing the moment well.[31][32]

Thanks to the dramatic return of Tiger Woods to competitive play after a scandal-ridden 20-week absence, to his close contention throughout for the lead (he finished tied with Choi for 4th at -11), and to Mickelson and others' memorably exciting play over the weekend, the 2010 Masters showed strong television ratings in the United States, ranking third all-time to Woods's historic wins in 1997 and 2001.[33] Mickelson's win left him second only to Woods in major championships among his competitive contemporaries, moving him ahead of Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Pádraig Harrington, with three major championships each and each, like Mickelson, with dozens of worldwide wins.

Mickelson, who was one of the favorites for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, shot 74 and 66 on Thursday and Friday to sit a shot off the lead. However, two weekend scores of 73 gave him a T4 finish. During the rest of the 2010 season, Mickelson had multiple opportunities to become the number one player in the Official World Golf Rankings following the travails of Tiger Woods. However, a string of disappointing finishes by Mickelson saw the number one spot eventually go to Englishman Lee Westwood.

In the days leading up to the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits (located near Mosel, Sheboygan County, at Haven, Wisconsin), Mickelson announced he had been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. He added that he had started medical treatment, and had become a vegetarian in hopes of aiding his recovery. He maintains that both his short and long term prognosis are good, that the condition should have no long term effect on his golfing career, and that he currently feels well. He also stated that the arthritis may go into permanent remission after one year of medical treatment. He went on to finish the championship T12, five shots back of victor Martin Kaymer.

2011 [edit]

Mickelson started his season at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course. He shot 3 rounds of 67-69-68 and was tied for the 54 hole lead with Bill Haas. Mickelson needed to hole out on the 18th hole for eagle from 74 yards to force a playoff with Bubba Watson. He hit it to 4 feet and Watson won the tournament.

On April 3, 2011, Mickelson won the Shell Houston Open with a 20-under-par, three-stroke win over Scott Verplank. Mickelson rose to No. 3 in the world ranking, while Tiger Woods fell to No. 7. Mickelson had not been ranked above Woods since the week prior to the 1997 Masters Tournament.

At the 2011 Open Championship, Mickelson recorded just his second top-ten finish in 18 tournaments by tying for second with Dustin Johnson. His front nine 30 put him briefly in a tie for the lead with eventual champion Darren Clarke. However, his poor putting caused him to fade from contention toward the end, to finish tied for second.

At the 2011 Deutsche Bank Championship, Mickelson began using a belly putter, an Odyssey Sabertooth with a White Hot XG insert. Mickelson has been receiving advice from 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley on technique with a belly putter.

2012 [edit]

Mickelson switched back to the conventional putter in 2012, where he made his debut at the Humana Challenge finishing tied for 49th at 10-under par and struggled with his game slightly. His erratic play continued the following week at the Farmers Insurance Open when he missed the cut after shooting rounds of 77 and 68. In the final round of the 2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Mickelson rallied from 6 back, winning the tournament by two shots with a final round score of 8-under 64 and a four round total of 269.[34] The win marked his 40th career victory on the PGA Tour.[35] The following week at Riviera Country Club, Mickelson lost the Northern Trust Open in a three man playoff.[36] He had held the lead or a share of it from day one until the back nine on Sunday when Bill Haas posted the clubhouse lead at seven under par. Mickelson holed a 27-foot birdie putt on the final regulation hole to force a playoff alongside Haas and Keegan Bradley. Haas however won the playoff with a 40 foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole. The second place finish moved Mickelson back into the world's top 10.[37]

Mickelson finished tied for third at the 2012 Masters Tournament. After opening the tournament with a two-over-par 74, he shot 68-66 in the next two rounds and ended up one behind the leader Peter Hanson by the Saturday night. Mickelson had a poor start to his fourth round, scoring a triple-bogey when he hit his ball far to the left of the green on the par-3 4th hole, hitting the stand and landing in a bamboo plant. This ended up being Mickelson's only score over par in the whole round, and he ended with a score of eight-under overall. Earlier in the tournament he had received widespread praise for being present to watch Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player hit the ceremonial opening tee-shots, nearly seven hours before Mickelson's own tee time.[38]

Mickelson then played the Wells Fargo Championship and finished T-26. He next played The Players Championship and finished T-25th. He went on to make a charge on Sunday at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, but bogeyed 17 and 18, and finished T-7th. He then withdrew from the Memorial Tournament, citing mental fatigue, after a first round 79. He was to be paired with Tiger Woods and Bubba Watson at the U.S. Open. He fought to make the cut in the U.S. Open, and finished T-65th. After taking a couple of weeks off, he played the Greenbrier Classic. Putting problems meant a second straight missed cut at the Greenbrier and a third missed cut at The Open Championship, shooting 73-78 (11 over par). He finished T-43rd at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He then finished T-36th at the PGA Championship.

To start the 2012 FedEx Cup Playoffs, Mickelson finished T38 at The Barclays, +1 for the tournament. He tied with Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson, and five other players. In this tournament, he started using the claw putting grip on the greens.[39] At the next event, the Deutsche Bank Championship, he finished the tournament with a –14, tied for 4th with Dustin Johnson.[40] At the BMW Championship, Mickelson posted a –16 for the first three rounds, one of those rounds being a –8, 64. On the final day, Mickelson shot a –2, 70, to finish tied for 2nd, with Lee Westwood, two shots behind leader, and back-to-back winner, Rory McIlroy.[41] At the Tour Championship, he ended up finishing tied for 15th, at +1, with Sergio García, Scott Piercy, and Zach Johnson.[42] He went on to have a 3–1 record at the Ryder Cup; however, the USA team lost the event.

2013 [edit]

Mickelson began the 2013 season by playing in the Humana Challenge in January, where he finished T37 at –17.[43] His next event was the following week in his home event near San Diego at the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson endured a disappointing tournament, finishing T51, shooting all four rounds in the 70's.

In the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Mickelson tied his career low round of 60. He made seven birdies in his first nine holes and needed a birdie on the 18th hole to equal the PGA Tour record of 59. However, his 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole lipped out, resulting in him missing out by a single shot on making only the sixth round of 59 in PGA Tour history. Mickelson flirted with history in each of the remaining rounds to set new records, but just missed them. He did however equal Mark Calcavecchia's tournament scoring record of 28 under par.[44] He went on to claim the title, leading wire-to-wire to complete a four shot win over Brandt Snedeker for his 41st PGA Tour victory and 3rd Phoenix Open title. He also moved back inside the world's top 10 after falling down as far as number 22.

Taxation controversy [edit]

Mickelson publicly commented that he was considering drastic changes and may move his family out of California over high taxes, but apologized just days later saying that he "shouldn't have spoken out on such a personal topic." Mickelson says he is learning about the new tax laws that are affecting his rate and has no decisive plan. Although controversy was also stirred concerning Mickelson retiring due to the taxation, these comments were only speculation as Mickelson did not mention retirement in his comments.[45]

Playing style [edit]

As a professional competitor, Mickelson's playing style is described by many as "aggressive" and highly social.[46][47][48] Sometimes, his strategy towards difficult shots (bad lies, obstructions) tends to be what may be considered risky and a gamble.[49]

Mickelson's game has been characterized by his powerful but often inaccurate full swing, but even more so by his excellent short game, and most of all his daring "Phil flop" shot, in which a big swing with a high-lofted wedge against a tight lie flies a ball high into the air for a short distance. His putting has been usually excellent since turning pro.

Earnings and endorsements [edit]

Although ranked second on the "all-time money list"[50] of tournament prize money won, Mickelson earns far more from endorsements than from prize money. According to one estimate[51] of 2011 earnings (comprising salary, winnings, bonuses, endorsements and appearances) Mickelson was then the second-highest paid athlete in the United States, earning an income of over $62 million, $53 million of which came from endorsements. Major companies which Mickelson currently endorses are KPMG, ExxonMobil (Mickelson and wife Amy started a teacher sponsorship fund with the company), Rolex, Barclays, and Callaway Golf. He has been previously sponsored by Titleist, Bearing Point and Ford. After being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2010, Mickelson was treated with Enbrel and began endorsing the drug.

Amateur wins (7) [edit]

Professional wins (49) [edit]

Mickelson with the trophy for the 2007 Players Championship

PGA Tour wins (41) [edit]

Legend
Major championships (4)
World Golf Championships (1)
FedEx Cup Events (2)
Other PGA Tour (34)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 Jan 13, 1991 Northern Telecom Open
(as an amateur)
–16 (65-71-65-71=272) 1 stroke United States Tom Purtzer, United States Bob Tway
2 Feb 21, 1993 Buick Invitational of California –10 (75-69-69-65=278) 7 strokes United States Jay Don Blake, United States Jay Haas,
United States Greg Twiggs
3 Aug 22, 1993 The International 45 pts. (11-7-11-16 = 45) 8 points United States Mark Calcavecchia
4 Jan 9, 1994 Mercedes Championships –12 (70-68-70-68=276) Playoff United States Fred Couples
5 Jan 22, 1995 Northern Telecom Open (2) –19 (65-66-70-68=269) 1 stroke United States Jim Gallagher, Jr., United States Scott Simpson
6 Jan 14, 1996 Nortel Open (3) –14 (69-66-71-67=273) 2 strokes United States Bob Tway
7 Jan 27, 1996 Phoenix Open –15 (69-67-66-67=269) Playoff United States Justin Leonard
8 May 15, 1996 GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic –15 (67-65-67-66=265) 2 strokes Australia Craig Parry
9 Aug 25, 1996 NEC World Series of Golf –6 (70-66-68-70=274) 3 strokes United States Billy Mayfair, United States Steve Stricker,
United States Duffy Waldorf
10 Mar 23, 1997 Bay Hill Invitational –16 (72-65-70-65=272) 3 strokes Australia Stuart Appleby
11 Aug 3, 1997 Sprint International (2) 48 pts. (14-13-12-9 = 48) 7 points Australia Stuart Appleby
12 Jan 11, 1998 Mercedes Championships (2) –17 (68-67-68-68=271) 1 stroke United States Mark O'Meara, United States Tiger Woods
13 Feb 1, 1998 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am –14 (65-70-67=202) 1 stroke United States Tom Pernice, Jr.
14 Feb 13, 2000 Buick Invitational (2) –18 (66-67-67-70=270) 4 strokes Japan Shigeki Maruyama, United States Tiger Woods
15 Apr 2, 2000 BellSouth Classic –11 (67-69-69=205) Playoff United States Gary Nicklaus
16 May 21, 2000 MasterCard Colonial –12 (67-68-70-63=268) 2 strokes United States Stewart Cink, United States Davis Love III
17 Nov 5, 2000 The Tour Championship –13 (67-69-65-66=267) 2 strokes United States Tiger Woods
18 Feb 11, 2001 Buick Invitational (3) –19 (68-64-71-66=269) Playoff United States Frank Lickliter, United States Davis Love III
19 Jul 1, 2001 Canon Greater Hartford Open –16 (67-68-61-68=264) 1 stroke United States Billy Andrade
20 Jan 20, 2002 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic –30 (64-67-70-65-64=330) Playoff United States David Berganio, Jr.
21 Jun 23, 2002 Canon Greater Hartford Open (2) –14 (69-67-66-64=264) 1 stroke United States Jonathan Kaye, United States Davis Love III
22 Jan 25, 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (2) –30 (68-63-64-67-68=330) Playoff United States Skip Kendall
23 Apr 11, 2004 Masters Tournament –9 (72-69-69-69=279) 1 stroke South Africa Ernie Els
24 Feb 6, 2005 FBR Open (2) –17 (73-60-66-68=267) 5 strokes United States Scott McCarron, South KoreaUnited States Kevin Na
25 Feb 13, 2005 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (2) –19 (62-67-67-73=269) 4 strokes Canada Mike Weir
26 Apr 4, 2005 BellSouth Classic (2) –8 (74-65-69=208) Playoff India Arjun Atwal, United States Rich Beem,
United States Brandt Jobe, Spain José María Olazábal
27 Aug 15, 2005 PGA Championship –4 (67-65-72-72=276) 1 stroke Denmark Thomas Bjørn, Australia Steve Elkington
28 Apr 2, 2006 BellSouth Classic (3) –28 (63-65-67-65=260) 13 strokes United States Zach Johnson, Spain José María Olazábal
29 Apr 9, 2006 Masters Tournament (2) –7 (70-72-70-69=281) 2 strokes South Africa Tim Clark
30 Feb 11, 2007 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (3) –20 (65-67-70-66=268) 5 strokes United States Kevin Sutherland
31 May 13, 2007 The Players Championship –11 (67-72-69-69=277) 2 strokes Spain Sergio García
32 Sep 3, 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship –16 (70-64-68-66=268) 2 strokes United States Arron Oberholser, United States Brett Wetterich,
United States Tiger Woods
33 Feb 17, 2008 Northern Trust Open –12 (68-64-70-70=272) 2 strokes United States Jeff Quinney
34 May 25, 2008 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (2) –14 (65-68-65-68=266) 1 stroke South Africa Tim Clark, Australia Rod Pampling
35 Feb 22, 2009 Northern Trust Open (2) –15 (63-72-62-72=269) 1 stroke United States Steve Stricker
36 Mar 15, 2009 WGC-CA Championship –19 (65-66-69-69=269) 1 stroke United States Nick Watney
37 Sep 27, 2009 The Tour Championship (2) –9 (73-67-66-65=271) 3 strokes United States Tiger Woods
38 Apr 11, 2010 Masters Tournament (3) –16 (67-71-67-67=272) 3 strokes England Lee Westwood
39 Apr 3, 2011 Shell Houston Open –20 (70-70-63-65=268) 3 strokes United States Chris Kirk, United States Scott Verplank
40 Feb 12, 2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (4) –17 (70-65-70-64=269) 2 strokes South Korea Charlie Wi
41 Feb 3, 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open (3) –28 (60-65-64-67=256) 4 strokes United States Brandt Snedeker

PGA Tour playoff record (7–4)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1994 Mercedes Championships United States Fred Couples Won with par on second extra hole
2 1996 Phoenix Open United States Justin Leonard Won with birdie on third extra hole
3 2000 BellSouth Classic United States Gary Nicklaus Won with birdie on first extra hole
4 2000 GTE Byron Nelson Classic United States Davis Love III, Sweden Jesper Parnevik Parnevik won with birdie on third extra hole
Mickelson eliminated with birdie on second hole
5 2001 Buick Invitational United States Frank Lickliter, United States Davis Love III Won with double bogey on third extra hole
Love eliminated with par on second hole
6 2002 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic United States David Berganio, Jr. Won with birdie on first extra hole
7 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic United States Skip Kendall Won with birdie on first extra hole
8 2005 BellSouth Classic India Arjun Atwal, United States Rich Beem,
United States Brandt Jobe, Spain José María Olazábal
Won with birdie on fourth extra hole
Olazábal eliminated with par on third hole
Atwal and Jobe eliminated with par on first hole
9 2007 Nissan Open United States Charles Howell III Lost to par on third extra hole
10 2008 FBR Open United States J. B. Holmes Lost to birdie on first extra hole
11 2012 Northern Trust Open United States Keegan Bradley, United States Bill Haas Haas won with birdie on second extra hole

European Tour wins (7) [edit]

Legend
Major championships (4)
World Golf Championships (2)
Other European Tour (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 Apr 11, 2004 Masters Tournament –9 (72-69-69-69=279) 1 stroke South Africa Ernie Els
2 Aug 15, 2005 PGA Championship –4 (67-65-72-72=276) 1 stroke Denmark Thomas Bjorn, Australia Steve Elkington
3 Apr 9, 2006 Masters Tournament –7 (70-72-70-69=281) 2 strokes South Africa Tim Clark
4 Nov 11, 2007
(2008 season)
HSBC Champions1 –10 (68-66-68-76=278) Playoff England Lee Westwood, England Ross Fisher
5 Mar 15, 2009 WGC-CA Championship –19 (65-66-69-69=269) 1 stroke United States Nick Watney
6 Nov 8, 2009 WGC-HSBC Champions2 –17 (69-66-67-69=271) 1 stroke South Africa Ernie Els
7 Apr 11, 2010 Masters Tournament –16 (67-71-67-67=272) 3 strokes England Lee Westwood

1 Co-sanctioned with Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia
2 Official event on European Tour, co-sanctioned by PGA Tour, Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour & PGA Tour of Australasia, but not an official PGA Tour event

European Tour playoff record (1–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 2007 Scottish Open France Gregory Havret Lost to par on first extra hole
2 2007 HSBC Champions England Ross Fisher, England Lee Westwood Won with birdie on second extra hole

Challenge Tour wins (1) [edit]

Other wins (5) [edit]

Major championships [edit]

Wins (4) [edit]

Year Championship 54 Holes Winning score Margin Runner(s)-up
2004 Masters Tournament Tied for lead –9 (72-69-69-69=279) 1 stroke South Africa Ernie Els
2005 PGA Championship Tied for lead –4 (67-65-72-72=276) 1 stroke Denmark Thomas Bjørn, Australia Steve Elkington
2006 Masters Tournament (2) 1 shot lead –7 (70-72-70-69=281) 2 strokes South Africa Tim Clark
2010 Masters Tournament (3) 1 shot deficit –16 (67-71-67-67=272) 3 strokes England Lee Westwood

Results timeline [edit]

Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
The Masters DNP T46LA DNP T34 DNP T7 3 CUT T12 T6
U.S. Open T29LA T55LA CUT DNP T47 T4 T94 T43 T10 2
The Open Championship DNP T73 DNP DNP CUT T40 T41 T24 79 CUT
PGA Championship DNP DNP DNP T6 3 CUT T8 T29 T34 T57
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
The Masters T7 3 3 3 1 10 1 T24 T5 5
U.S. Open T16 T7 2 T55 2 T33 T2 CUT T18 T2
The Open Championship T11 T30 T66 T59 3 T60 T22 CUT T19 DNP
PGA Championship T9 2 T34 T23 T6 1 T16 T32 T7 73
Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013
The Masters 1 T27 T3 T54
U.S. Open T4 T54 T65
The Open Championship T48 T2 CUT
PGA Championship T12 T19 T36

LA = Low Amateur
DNP = did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10

Summary [edit]

  • Starts – 82
  • Wins – 4
  • 2nd place finishes – 7
  • 3rd place finishes – 7
  • Top 3 finishes – 18
  • Top 5 finishes – 22
  • Top 10 finishes – 33
  • Top 25 finishes – 45
  • Missed cuts – 8
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 30
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 5

World Golf Championships [edit]

Wins (2) [edit]

Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin of victory Runner-up
2009 WGC-CA Championship Tied for lead –19 (65-66-69-69=269) 1 stroke United States Nick Watney
2009 WGC-HSBC Champions 2 shot lead –17 (69-66-67-69=271) 1 stroke South Africa Ernie Els

Results timeline [edit]

Tournament 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Accenture Match Play Championship R16 R64 DNP R64 R16 QF R16 R16 R32 R32
Cadillac Championship T40 DNP NT1 T23 T38 DNP T29 DNP T23 T20
Bridgestone Invitational 2 T4 T8 T9 T23 T43 T51 T54 T46 T4
Tournament 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Accenture Match Play Championship R16 DNP R32 DNP DNP
Cadillac Championship 1 T14 T55 T43 T3
Bridgestone Invitational T58 T46 T48 T43
HSBC Champions 1 T41 DNP T2

1Cancelled due to 9/11
The HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009 (it is not an official money PGA Tour event). Mickelson won the event in 2007, before it became part of the WGC schedule.
DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
NT = No Tournament
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.

PGA Tour career summary [edit]

Year Wins (Majors) Earnings ($) Rank
1991 1 see note n/a
1992 0 171,714 90
1993 2 628,735 22
1994 1 748,316 15
1995 1 655,777 28
1996 4 1,697,799 2
1997 2 1,225,390 11
1998 2 1,837,246 6
1999 0 1,722,681 14
2000 4 4,746,457 2
2001 2 4,403,833 2
2002 2 4,311,971 2
2003 0 1,623,137 38
2004 2 (1) 5,784,823 3
2005 4 (1) 5,699,605 3
2006 2 (1) 4,256,505 6
2007 3 5,819,988 2
2008 2 5,118,875 3
2009 3 5,332,755 3
2010 1 (1) 3,821,733 6
2011 1 3,763,488 12
2012 1 4,203,821 8
2013* 1 1,764,680 6
Career* 41 (4) $69,409,378 2

* As of April 14, 2013.

Note: Mickelson won as an amateur in 1991 and therefore did not receive any prize money.

U.S. national team appearances [edit]

Amateur

Professional

Equipment [edit]

As of 4/2/2013 via GolfWRX.com

  • Driver: Callaway RAZR Fit Xtreme

Loft: 9.5 Degrees adjusted to 8.1 Degrees Weights: 5-gram toe weight and 3-gram heel weight Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Fubuki K. 059 70 X Prototype Grip: Golf Pride Dual Durometer (White/Black)

  • 3 Wood:Callaway XHOT Pro 3Deep

Loft: 13 Degrees Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Fubuki K. 80 X Prototype Grip: Golf Pride Dual Durometer (White/Black) Length: 43.25 Inches

  • 5 Wood: Titleist 980F

Loft: 17 Degrees Shaft: Graphite Design PM 902 X-Flex Grip: Golf Pride Dual Durometer (White/Black) Length: 42.25 Inches

  • Irons: Callaway RAZR X Forged Muscleback (4-PW)

Shafts: KBS Tour V2 Shafts Grips: Golf Pride Dual Durometer (White/Black)

  • Wedges: Callaway X Series Jaws (52,60,64 Degrees)

Shafts: KBS Tour V2 Shafts Grips: Golf Pride Dual Durometer (White/Black)

  • Putter: Odyssey Black Series Tour #9

Grip: SuperStroke

  • Ball: Callaway HEX Black Tour

As of April 2, 2013[53]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ World Golf Hall of Fame to induct Mickelson in 2012
  2. ^ a b USA Today - Phil Sr. prepared son for greatness - 2005-08-15
  3. ^ Personal section of PGA Tour official media guide
  4. ^ "PGA". 
  5. ^ The Gigantic Book of Golf Quotations, ed. Jim Apfelbaum. 2007.
  6. ^ Major Issues
  7. ^ McCabe, Jim (2008-08-31). "Dash and carry: Mickelson caddy makes the rounds". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-07-25. 
  8. ^ Official World Golf Ranking Advanced Statistics
  9. ^ 69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 In World Ranking
  10. ^ "Players who have reached the Top Ten in the Official World Golf Ranking since 1986" (PDF). European Tour Official Guide 09 (38th ed.). PGA European Tour. 2009. p. 558. Retrieved 2009-01-16. 
  11. ^ Barr, Adam (2004-09-07). "Business Edge: Mickelson, Callaway Sign Endorsement Deal". The Golf Channel. Retrieved 2007-11-20. 
  12. ^ "Ogilvy grabs U.S. Open when Mickelson, Montgomerie stumble". USA Today. Retrieved February 4, 2013. 
  13. ^ "Tips appreciated". SI.com. SportsTicker. 2006-03-04. Retrieved 2007-11-20. 
  14. ^ Verdi, Bob, Golf World (2007-02-14). "Mickelson gives to Dobler family". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-11-20. 
  15. ^ "Mickelson Won't Play In BMW Championship". The Washington Post. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2009-07-26. 
  16. ^ Moore, Stewart (2008-05-22). "Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial: First-Round Notebook". PGA Tor. Retrieved 2012-09-12. 
  17. ^ "Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial leaderboard". ESPN. 2008-05-25. Retrieved 2012-09-12. 
  18. ^ "Final-round recap: Lefty escapes with Colonial victory". PGA Tour. Associated Press. 2008-05-25. Retrieved 2012-09-12. 
  19. ^ How Phil Mickelson regained his stride
  20. ^ Phil Mickelson's weight loss workout
  21. ^ "Halls of Fame take note of Gagliardi and Molde". Star Tribune. 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2009-07-29. [dead link]
  22. ^ Mickelson’s wife diagnosed with breast cancer
  23. ^ Daly Wears Pink in Final Round in Honour of Amy Mickelson
  24. ^ "Report: Mickelson to play June 11". ESPN. 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2012-04-17. 
  25. ^ Mickelson's mother has breast cancer
  26. ^ "Mickelson wins Tour Championship". BBC Sport. 2009-09-27. Retrieved 2009-09-28. 
  27. ^ "Phil Mickelson wins US Tour Championship as Tiger Woods pockets $10 million". The Telegraph (London). 2009-09-28. Retrieved 2009-09-28. 
  28. ^ "Mickelson holds off Els in China". BBC Sport. 2009-11-08. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
  29. ^ DiMeglio, Steve (2010-04-11). "Mickelson seizes the moment, captures Masters for third time". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-04-12. 
  30. ^ Dorman, Larry (2010-04-11). "Mickelson Captures His Third Masters Title". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
  31. ^ "Masters Final Round Highlights". CBS Sports. 2010-04-11. Retrieved 2010-04-15. 
  32. ^ "Third Time's A Charm". Golf Digest. 2010-04-11. Retrieved 2010-04-15. 
  33. ^ "Masters Ratings Climb 36 Percent". Associated Press. 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2010-04-15. 
  34. ^ "2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Leaderboard". PGATour.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012. 
  35. ^ Ferguson, Doug (February 12, 2012). "Tiger fades, Mickelson charges to win at Pebble Beach for 40th PGA Tour title". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved February 22, 2012. 
  36. ^ "Bill Haas wins at Riviera in playoff". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 20, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012. 
  37. ^ "Official World Golf Ranking, Week 7, 2012". February 19, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012. 
  38. ^ "Mickelson takes in ceremonial shots". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 6, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012. 
  39. ^ http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r027/
  40. ^ http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r505/
  41. ^ http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r028/
  42. ^ http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r060/
  43. ^ "Phil Mickelson - Results". PGA Tour. Retrieved February 1, 2013. 
  44. ^ "Pro golf: Phil Mickelson just misses PGA Tour record in Phoenix Open win". Associated Press. Retrieved February 4, 2012. 
  45. ^ "Mickelson backtracks on further comment on taxes after speaking out over high rate". Fox News. January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013. 
  46. ^ "Video". CNN. 2002-08-19. 
  47. ^ http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2010/news/mcallister041110.cfm
  48. ^ http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tournaments/r011/05/05/tuesday.transcript.phil/index.html
  49. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=8WVYkr450WMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=phil+mickelson+attitude&source=bl&ots=TR679AdaOM&sig=Yih25hboRo-eVDUu5QsvfTjxXl0&hl=en&ei=LajITNLCCYiasAOvofDICA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CCgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=phil%20mickelson%20attitude&f=false
  50. ^ http://espn.go.com/golf/moneylist/_/tour/alltime
  51. ^ "Staff - About Us - SI.com". CNN. 
  52. ^ http://www.juniorworldgolf.com/node/21?pg=1980
  53. ^ "Phil Mickelson WITB". April 2, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2013. 

External links [edit]