Phil Mickelson on the 2006 U.S. Open, certainly one of his a number of shut calls.
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In Phil Research, college students converse of the 4 Levels of Phil: Prodigy Phil, Aw-Shucks Phil, Dangerous-Ass Phil — and his present stage.
Prodigy Phil was all dimples and promise. This Phil was a mega-talent, the low novice within the 1990 and 1991 U.S. Opens and the winner of the ’90 U.S. Newbie in between them. Outdated fingers on the USGA had by no means seen something like him, all that California allure and left-handed, flop-shot magic. He was a USGA darling.
As a professional, he morphed into Aw-Shucks Phil. Phil on the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, when he was the runner-up to Payne Stewart, with Phil and Amy on child watch. Phil on the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage, when he was the runner-up to Tiger, in a interval when just about no one might beat Tiger, however Phil gave it the Lefty strive! Phil on the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, when he was runner-up to Retief Goosen and couldn’t be goaded into dissing the grassless greens. Phil on the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, when, after ending in a three-way tie for second, he appeared on the awards ceremony, whereas the opposite silver finishers, Jim Furyk and Colin Montgomerie, blew it off. Phil on the 2009 U.S. Open again at Bethpage, when Phil was the runner-up to Lucas Glover however supplied thumbs-ups to anybody who appeared his means — New York beloved him — and rolled out with this message: Sometime.
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After which got here a sixth second, in 2013, on the U.S. Open at Merion, and the emergence of Dangerous-Ass Phil. This Phil fussed with Mike Davis of the USGA over the course setup, throughout the deadly fourth spherical. This Phil declined the USGA’s invitation to just accept its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award. This Phil was within the World Golf Corridor of Fame however his days as an Institution golfer had been over.
It was Dangerous-Ass Phil who gained the British Open at Muirfield, a month after Merion, and certainly one of his messages was a USGA dig: A world-class course ought to by no means be tricked-up. It was BAP who took over the CBS broadcast on the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park for one of the vital entertaining hours within the historical past of televised golf, mocking Sir Nick, telling jokes, stealing the present. It was BAP who gained the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah. He was 50 and ripped and he took down Brooks Koepka on Sunday with out ever eradicating his shades or his gum. It was BAP who went to LIV, recklessly dissing the Saudi billionaires who had been paying him so handsomely on his means there. BAP has been dismissive of the USGA’s try and decelerate the golf ball and was vulgar in his evaluation of the USGA’s resolution to not provide Talor Gooch, Phil’s LIV Golf teammate, a spot in final yr’s U.S. Open subject.
However that was then and that is now. Mickelson will flip 54 on the Sunday of this yr’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst and his golf, by his requirements — he tied for forty third at Augusta — has been mediocre. If he’s taking part in weekend golf on the U.S. Open, it will be an accomplishment. Phil himself has been saying for some time now that his probabilities of ever successful a U.S. Open have just about come and gone, although not for lack of effort. The start of Acceptance Phil.
Phil is beginning to wrap issues up right here, within the slim space of his nationwide championship. He’s in subsequent yr’s subject, through his 2021 PGA win, and he might attempt to qualify for Opens in 2026 and past, however it’s laborious to see him doing that. The USGA might provide Phil a send-off exemption, however it’s unlikely Phil would settle for it. The fracture within the USGA-Mickelson relationship is deep. What a disgrace. Phil Mickelson has been one of many monumental figures in USGA historical past. They want counseling.
Phil Mickelson has gained the Masters thrice, the PGA Championship twice, the British Open as soon as. Like Sam Snead earlier than him, he’ll doubtless all the time be one U.S. Open wanting the profession Grand Slam. Phil is aware of the rating: Six seconds, no wins, and that abstract will observe him ceaselessly. It’s confounding however wistfully lovely too. Isn’t there one thing mournful and lovely about not having all of it?
