History of Phil Mickelson in Timeline
Philip Alfred Mickelson, nicknamed "Lefty", is a highly accomplished American professional golfer currently competing in the LIV Golf League. He boasts 45 PGA Tour victories, including six major championships: three Masters, two PGA Championships, and one Open Championship. Notably, he became the oldest major championship winner at the 2021 PGA Championship at age 50. Mickelson is known for his aggressive playing style and popularity among fans.
1954: Gene Littler Wins San Diego Open
In 1954, Gene Littler won the San Diego Open as an amateur.
1956: Doug Sanders Wins Canadian Open
In 1956, Doug Sanders won the Canadian Open as an amateur.
1963: Bob Charles Wins The Open Championship
In 1963, Sir Bob Charles won The Open Championship as a left-handed golfer.
June 16, 1970: Phil Mickelson Born
On June 16, 1970, Philip Alfred Mickelson was born. He is now known as a professional golfer who plays in the LIV Golf League.
August 1985: Scott Verplank Wins Western Open
In August 1985, Scott Verplank won the Western Open. This was the most recent win by an amateur at a PGA Tour event until Mickelson's win in 1991.
1988: Graduates from High School
In 1988, Phil Mickelson graduated from the University of San Diego High School.
1989: Long Streak Ended
In December 2019, Mickelson announced he would play in the 2020 Saudi International tournament and would miss Waste Management Phoenix Open for the first time since 1989.
1990: NCAA Team Title and Haskins Award
In 1990, Phil Mickelson led the Sun Devils to the NCAA team title and won the Haskins Award as the outstanding collegiate golfer.
1990: Wins U.S. Amateur Title
In 1990, Phil Mickelson won the U.S. Amateur title, becoming the first left-handed swinger to do so.
January 1991: Wins Northern Telecom Open
In January 1991, Phil Mickelson won the Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, becoming one of the few golfers to win a PGA Tour event as an amateur.
1991: Won as an Amateur
In 1991, Phil Mickelson won as an amateur and therefore did not receive any prize money.
1991: Earns Two-Year Exemption
In 1991, Phil Mickelson's win at the Northern Telecom Open earned him a two-year exemption, allowing him to bypass Q-School when he turned professional in 1992.
June 1992: Turns Professional
In June 1992, Phil Mickelson graduated from ASU and turned professional, bypassing Q-School due to his 1991 Tucson win.
1992: Haskins Award
In 1992, Phil Mickelson won the Haskins Award as the outstanding collegiate golfer.
1992: Low amateur at the Masters Tournament
In April 1992, Mickelson was the low amateur at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
1994: Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup Streak
In 2017, Mickelson was named as a captain's pick for the Presidents Cup, maintaining a streak of 23 consecutive USA teams in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, dating back to 1994.
1996: Appears in Tin Cup
In 1996, Phil Mickelson appeared as himself in a non-speaking role in the film Tin Cup.
1996: Wins Byron Nelson Golf Classic and World Series of Golf
In 1996, Phil Mickelson won the Byron Nelson Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf.
1997: Ranked Above Woods
In 1997, Mickelson had not been ranked above Woods since the week prior to the Masters Tournament.
1997: Historic Wins for Woods
In 1997, Tiger Woods had a historic win, and in 2010 the Masters' television ratings ranked third all-time to this win.
1997: Missed Cut at Masters
Mickelson missed the cut at the Masters for the first time since 1997.
1998: Wins AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
In 1998, Phil Mickelson won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
1999: Multiple Top-Ten Finishes
Between 1999 and 2003, Phil Mickelson had 17 top-ten finishes in majors, but no wins.
2000: Wins Colonial National Invitation
In 2000, Phil Mickelson won the Colonial National Invitation.
2000: Buick Invitational Win
In 2000, Phil Mickelson's win at the Buick Invitational ended Tiger Woods's streak of six consecutive victories on the PGA Tour.
2001: Wins Greater Hartford Open
In 2001, Phil Mickelson won the Greater Hartford Open.
2001: Historic Wins for Woods
In 2001, Tiger Woods had a historic win, and in 2010 the Masters' television ratings ranked third all-time to this win.
2001: Lowest Total by a Runner-Up
Mickelson's 267 total at the 2016 British Open set a record score for a runner-up in the British Open, and only trails Mickelson's 266 at the 2001 PGA Championship as the lowest total by a runner-up in major championship history.
2002: Wins Greater Hartford Open
In 2002, Phil Mickelson won the Greater Hartford Open.
2003: Labelled "Best Player Never to Win a Major"
By the end of the 2003 season, despite many top-ten finishes, Phil Mickelson's inability to win a major led to him being described as the "best player never to win a major".
2003: Mike Weir Wins The Masters
In 2003, Mike Weir won The Masters as a left-handed golfer.
2004: Masters Tournament Win
In 2004, Phil Mickelson secured a Masters Tournament title, one of his six major championship wins.
2004: Equipment Contract Change
In 2004, prior to the Ryder Cup, Phil Mickelson ended his contract with Titleist/Acushnet Golf and signed with Callaway Golf after an incident involving a voicemail message.
2004: CareerBuilder Challenge win
In 2016, Mickelson's T3 finish was the highest since winning the same event to begin the 2004 season.
2005: PGA Championship Win
In 2005, Phil Mickelson secured a PGA Championship title, one of his six major championship wins.
2006: Replaces Spectator's Broken Watch
During the 2006 Ford Championship at Doral, Phil Mickelson gave a spectator $200 after his tee shot broke the man's watch.
2006: Masters Tournament Win
In 2006, Phil Mickelson secured another Masters Tournament title, one of his six major championship wins.
April 2007: Changes Swing Coach
In April 2007, Phil Mickelson decided to leave his longtime swing coach, Rick Smith, and began working with Butch Harmon.
September 3, 2007: Wins Deutsche Bank Championship
On September 3, 2007, Phil Mickelson won the Deutsche Bank Championship, beating Tiger Woods, who finished second. It was the first time that Mickelson beat Woods while paired together on the final day of a tournament.
2007: Pays for Conrad Dobler's Daughter's Tuition
In 2007, Phil Mickelson volunteered to pay the tuition for Holli Dobler, Conrad Dobler's daughter, at Miami University.
2008: Walters Made $40 Million on Davis's Private Information
In 2008, Billy Walters began making $40 million on Thomas Davis's private information.
2008: Inducted into National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
In 2008, Phil Mickelson was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
2008: Wins Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
In 2008, Phil Mickelson won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, showcasing a remarkable approach shot on the final hole.
2009: Wins Northern Trust Open and WGC-CA Championship
In 2009, Phil Mickelson won the Northern Trust Open and the WGC-CA Championship, surpassing Vijay Singh for second place on the current PGA Tour wins list.
2009: HSBC Champions Became a WGC Event
In 2009, the HSBC Champions became a WGC event.
2009: Returns to PGA Tour and Finishes Runner-Up at U.S. Open
In June 2009, Phil Mickelson returned to the PGA Tour at the St. Jude Classic and U.S. Open. He finished runner-up at the 2009 U.S. Open, his fifth time finishing second at the U.S. Open.
2009: Wife's Breast Cancer Diagnosis
In May 2009, it was announced that Phil Mickelson's wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer, leading him to suspend his PGA Tour schedule indefinitely.
2009: Wins The Tour Championship
In September 2009, Phil Mickelson won The Tour Championship for the second time, finishing second behind Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup standings.
2010: Diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis
After being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2010, Phil Mickelson was treated with Enbrel and began endorsing the drug.
2010: Tied for 4th at Masters
In 2010, Mickelson tied for 4th at the Masters, which had strong television ratings, ranking third all-time to Woods's historic wins. Mickelson's performance left him second only to Woods in major championships among his contemporaries.
2010: Masters Tournament Win
In 2010, Phil Mickelson secured another Masters Tournament title, one of his six major championship wins.
2010: T4 Finish at U.S. Open
In 2010, despite being a favorite for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Mickelson finished T4 after weekend scores of 73. Throughout the 2010 season, he had opportunities to become the world number one but had disappointing finishes.
2011: Second-Highest Paid Athlete in the U.S.
According to a 2011 estimate, Phil Mickelson was the second-highest paid athlete in the United States, earning over $62 million, with $53 million coming from endorsements.
2011: Farmers Insurance Open
In 2011, Mickelson started his season at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he tied for the 54-hole lead. He needed to hole out on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Bubba Watson but ultimately lost the tournament.
2012: Bubba Watson Wins The Masters
In 2012, Bubba Watson won The Masters as a left-handed golfer.
2012: Mixed Results and Withdrawals
In 2012, Mickelson finished T-7th at the HP Byron Nelson Championship but withdrew from the Memorial Tournament due to mental fatigue. He finished T-65th at the U.S. Open and had missed cuts at the Greenbrier Classic and Open Championship.
2012: FedEx Cup Playoffs and Ryder Cup
In 2012, Mickelson participated in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, with a T38 finish at The Barclays. He tied for 4th at the Deutsche Bank Championship and tied for 2nd at the BMW Championship. At the Ryder Cup, he had a 3–1 record, but the USA team lost.
2012: Trades in Dean Foods
In 2012, Mickelson was investigated for trades in Dean Foods from which he profited more than $931,000.
2012: Inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame
In 2012, Phil Mickelson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
2013: Seeking Winless Streak End
At the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2016, Mickelson sought to end a winless drought dating back 52 worldwide events to the 2013 Open Championship.
2013: 2013 Season Start
In 2013, Mickelson started the season with a T37 finish at the Humana Challenge. He had a disappointing tournament at the Farmers Insurance Open, finishing T51.
2013: Led PGA Tour in Birdie Average
In 2013, Phil Mickelson led the PGA Tour in birdie average, showcasing his scoring ability.
2013: Open Championship Win
In 2013, Phil Mickelson secured an Open Championship title, one of his six major championship wins.
2013: Fifth Top-Five Finish Since 2013 Open Championship
Mickelson's T3 finish at the 2016 CareerBuilder Challenge was only his fifth top-five finish since his win at the 2013 Open Championship.
2013: Winless Drought Ending
On March 4, 2018, Mickelson won the WGC-Mexico Championship, ending a winless drought since his last win in 2013.
May 30, 2014: FBI and SEC Investigated Mickelson for Insider Trading
On May 30, 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported that the FBI and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) were investigating Phil Mickelson and associates for insider trading in Clorox and Dean Foods stock.
2014: Walters Profited from Davis's Private Information
From 2008 to 2014, Billy Walters made $40 million on Thomas Davis's private information, leading to his conviction.
2014: Bubba Watson Wins The Masters
In 2014, Bubba Watson won The Masters as a left-handed golfer.
2015: Forbes Estimated Mickelson's Annual Income
In 2015, Forbes estimated Phil Mickelson's annual income was $51 million, highlighting his financial success.
2015: Hired New Swing Coach
In 2015, Mickelson hired Andrew Getson as his new swing coach, working together to refine Mickelson's swing during the offseason.
2015: Tied for Second at Masters
In 2015, Mickelson tied for second at the Masters, marking his tenth such finish in a major, second only to Jack Nicklaus.
2015: Reflecting on 2013 Open Championship Win
In an interview before the 2015 Open, Mickelson expressed how much his 2013 Open Championship win meant to him.
2015: Non-Chronological Order
Prior to 2015, results are not presented in chronological order.
May 19, 2016: Named as Relief Defendant in SEC Complaint
On May 19, 2016, Phil Mickelson was named as a relief defendant in a SEC complaint alleging insider trading but avoided criminal charges.
2016: Tied for Third at CareerBuilder Challenge
In 2016, under Getson's guidance, Mickelson tied for third place at the CareerBuilder Challenge, marking his highest finish in his first worldwide start of a calendar year since 2004.
2016: Sports Hernia Surgeries and Return
In the fall of 2016, Mickelson had two sports hernia surgeries. His unexpected return at the CareerBuilder Challenge led to a T-21 finish. He then had a T14 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open and a T-16 finish at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
2017: Walters Convicted; Mickelson Fined by SEC
In 2017, Billy Walters was convicted of insider trading, and the SEC fined Phil Mickelson the equivalent of the $931,000 profit he made from trading Dean Foods stock, as well as interest of $105,000.
November 23, 2018: Wins Capital One's The Match
On November 23, 2018, Mickelson won Capital One's The Match, a $9,000,000 winner-takes-all event against Tiger Woods, after four extra holes.
2018: Controversial Incident at U.S. Open
During the third round of the 2018 U.S. Open, Mickelson incurred a two-stroke penalty for hitting his ball while it was still moving, resulting in a score of 81.
2018: Ryder Cup Participation
In 2018, Mickelson was a captain's pick for Team USA at the Ryder Cup. He lost his matches, and Team USA was defeated.
December 2019: Announcement to Play in Saudi International
In December 2019, Mickelson announced he would play in the 2020 Saudi International tournament, which was met with criticism due to human rights concerns.
February 2020: Saudi International Tournament
In February 2020, Mickelson played in the Saudi International tournament and finished tied for third.
June 16, 2020: PGA Tour Champions Eligibility
On June 16, 2020, Mickelson became eligible for the PGA Tour Champions on his 50th birthday.
October 2020: Wins Dominion Energy Charity Classic
In October 2020, Phil Mickelson secured victory at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Virginia, marking his second consecutive win on the PGA Tour Champions.
2020: Non-Chronological Order
In 2020, results are not presented in chronological order.
February 2021: T-20 Finish at Cologuard Classic
In February 2021, Phil Mickelson aimed to achieve a historic feat by winning his first three tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions. However, he finished in a tie for 20th place at the Cologuard Classic with a score of 4 under par.
May 2021: Wins 2021 PGA Championship
In May 2021, Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina, becoming the oldest major champion at 50. He finished the tournament at 6-under, defeating Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen by two strokes.
October 2021: Wins Constellation Furyk & Friends
In October 2021, Phil Mickelson won the inaugural Constellation Furyk & Friends in Jacksonville, Florida, marking his third win in four career starts on the PGA Tour Champions. Mickelson shot a final round 4-under-par 68 to win over Miguel Ángel Jiménez.
November 2021: Wins Charles Schwab Cup Championship
In November 2021, Phil Mickelson secured victory at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, with a final round of six-under par 65. This win marked Mickelson's fourth victory in six career starts on the PGA Tour Champions.
2021: Current Season
As of the 2021 season, this information is relevant.
2021: Mickelson withdraws from the PGA Championship
In 2021, Mickelson decided to withdraw from the PGA Championship which he won that year.
2021: PGA Championship Win
In 2021, Phil Mickelson secured another PGA Championship title, one of his six major championship wins, becoming the oldest major championship winner at 50 years, 11 months, and 7 days.
June 6, 2022: LIV Golf CEO Announces Mickelson Will Play
On June 6, 2022, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman announced that Phil Mickelson will participate in the inaugural event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, commencing on June 9, 2022.
June 9, 2022: PGA Tour Suspends Mickelson
On June 9, 2022, which was the first day of the LIV Golf Invitational London, the PGA Tour suspended Phil Mickelson, along with 16 other current and former tour members, due to their participation in a conflicting event without obtaining permission from the tour.
2022: Lost Sponsors After LIV Golf Comments
In 2022, Phil Mickelson lost sponsors, including KPMG and Amstel Light, after his comments regarding the Saudi-backed golf league, LIV Golf, stirred controversy.
2023: Tied Second at 2023 Masters Tournament
In 2023, Phil Mickelson delivered a memorable performance at the Masters Tournament, finishing tied for second. He shot a final round of 65, equaling his lowest score at Augusta, marking a significant achievement in his career.
2024: Nick Dunlap Wins The American Express
In 2024, Nick Dunlap wins The American Express, after Mickelson's 1991 win was the most recent win by an amateur at a PGA Tour event.
