Phil Mickelson, nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed playing style, is an American professional golfer in the LIV Golf League. With a career spanning numerous victories, including 45 PGA Tour wins and six major championships, he holds a prominent place in golf history. Notably, he became the oldest golfer to win a major championship with his victory at the 2021 PGA Championship at the age of 50.
1954: Gene Littler Wins San Diego Open
Gene Littler won the San Diego Open in 1954 as an amateur.
1956: Doug Sanders Wins Canadian Open
Doug Sanders won the Canadian Open in 1956 as an amateur.
1963: Bob Charles Wins The Open Championship
New Zealander Sir Bob Charles won The Open Championship in 1963. He was left-handed.
June 16, 1970: Birth of Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson was born on June 16, 1970.
August 1985: Scott Verplank Wins Western Open
Scott Verplank won the Western Open in August 1985 as an amateur.
1988: High School Graduation
Phil Mickelson graduated from the University of San Diego High School in 1988.
1989: Mickelson's Last Absence from the Waste Management Phoenix Open
Prior to 2020, Phil Mickelson had not missed the Waste Management Phoenix Open since 1989.
1990: U.S. Amateur Title
Phil Mickelson became the first golfer with a left-handed swing to win the U.S. Amateur title in 1990.
1990: NCAA Championship and Haskins Award
Phil Mickelson won his first NCAA individual championship and Haskins Award while attending Arizona State University on a golf scholarship. He also led the Sun Devils to the NCAA team title this year.
January 1991: First PGA Tour Win
In January 1991, Phil Mickelson won his first PGA Tour event and became one of the few golfers to win a PGA Tour event as an amateur.
1991: Second NCAA Championship and Haskins Award
Phil Mickelson won his second NCAA individual championship and Haskins Award.
1991: Amateur Victory and Prize Money Ineligibility
Phil Mickelson's victory in 1991 was as an amateur golfer, making him ineligible to receive any prize money for the win.
1991: Tucson Win Provides Two-Year Exemption
Phil Mickelson's win in Tucson in 1991 earned him a two-year exemption from the PGA Tour's qualifying process.
June 1992: Graduates ASU and Turns Professional
Phil Mickelson graduated from ASU and quickly turned professional in June 1992. He bypassed the tour's qualifying process because of his 1991 win in Tucson.
1992: Third NCAA Championship and Haskins Award
Phil Mickelson won his third NCAA individual championship and Haskins Award, tying the record for most individual championships.
1992: Low Amateur at the Masters Tournament
Phil Mickelson was the low amateur at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, in 1992.
1994: Start of Mickelson's Streak on USA Teams
In 1994, Phil Mickelson began a streak of 23 consecutive appearances on USA teams for the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup.
1996: Appearance in "Tin Cup"
Phil Mickelson appeared as himself in a non-speaking role in the 1996 film "Tin Cup," starring Kevin Costner.
1996: Wins Byron Nelson Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf
Phil Mickelson won the Byron Nelson Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf in 1996.
1997: Missed Cut and Top-10 Finish
In 1997, Mickelson missed the cut at the Masters for the first time since 1997 and didn't contend at the U.S. Open. However, he achieved his only top-10 finish of the PGA Tour season at the PGA Championship, finishing second to Rory McIlroy.
1997: Mickelson's Houston Open win and rise in rankings
On April 3, Mickelson's victory at the Shell Houston Open propelled him to No. 3 in the world ranking, surpassing Tiger Woods, who dropped to No. 7. This marked a significant shift in their rankings, a change not seen since before the 1997 Masters Tournament.
1997: Historical Television Ratings
The 1997 Masters Tournament marked a significant moment in golf history as it garnered extremely high television ratings.
1998: Wins AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Phil Mickelson won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 1998.
1999: Performing Well in Majors
Between 1999 and 2003, Phil Mickelson had 17 top-ten finishes and six second or third-place finishes in major championships.
2000: Wins Colonial National Invitation
Phil Mickelson won the Colonial National Invitation in 2000.
2000: Ends Tiger Woods' Winning Streak
Phil Mickelson's win at the 2000 Buick Invitational ended Tiger Woods's streak of six consecutive victories on the PGA Tour.
2001: Historical Television Ratings
The 2001 Masters Tournament marked a significant moment in golf history as it garnered extremely high television ratings.
2001: Wins Greater Hartford Open
Phil Mickelson won the Greater Hartford Open in 2001.
2001: Record-Breaking Performance at The Open Championship
At the 2001 PGA Championship, Mickelson achieved the lowest total by a runner-up in major championship history.
2002: Wins Second Greater Hartford Open
Phil Mickelson won the Greater Hartford Open for the second time in 2002.
2003: Mike Weir Wins The Masters
Canadian Mike Weir won The Masters in 2003. He was left-handed.
2003: Known as "Best Player Never to Win a Major"
Until the end of the 2003 season, Phil Mickelson was known as the "best player to never win a major" due to his inability to win any major championships despite many top-ten finishes.
November 2004: Career-Low Round
Phil Mickelson scored his career-low for an 18-hole round in November 2004: a 59 at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
2004: 2004 CareerBuilder Challenge Win
Mickelson started the 2004 season strong by winning the CareerBuilder Challenge.
2004: Dropped by Titleist/Acushnet Golf, Signs with Callaway Golf
Phil Mickelson was dropped from his contract with Titleist/Acushnet Golf in 2004 and subsequently signed with Callaway Golf.
2004: First Masters Tournament Win
Phil Mickelson won his first major championship in 2004 at the Masters Tournament, securing victory with a birdie putt on the final hole.
2004: Third Left-Handed Golfer to Win a Major
With his Masters Tournament win in 2004, Phil Mickelson became the third left-handed golfer to win a major.
2005: First PGA Championship Win
In 2005, Phil Mickelson won his second major championship at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol. His final round concluded on Monday due to inclement weather the previous day.
2006: Phil Mickelson's act of generosity at Ford Championship
During the third round of the 2006 Ford Championship at Doral, Mickelson demonstrated his generosity by giving a spectator $200 after his tee shot broke the man's watch.
2006: Second Masters Tournament Win
Phil Mickelson won his second Masters Tournament in 2006, winning by two strokes over the runner-up. This victory helped him achieve a career-best second place in the Official World Golf Ranking.
April 2007: Mickelson switches coach, wins The Players Championship
In April 2007, seeking to improve his driving accuracy, Mickelson made a significant change by parting ways with longtime swing coach Rick Smith and hiring Butch Harmon, known for coaching Tiger Woods and Greg Norman. This decision quickly paid off, as he won The Players Championship in May.
September 3, 2007: Mickelson defeats Woods at Deutsche Bank Championship
On September 3, 2007, Mickelson achieved a significant victory by winning the Deutsche Bank Championship, beating Tiger Woods in a final-day pairing for the first time in their careers. Notably, he later withdrew from the next FedEx Cup playoff event after publicly expressing his concerns about PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem's lack of response to his advice.
2007: Mickelson's generosity towards Conrad Dobler's family
In 2007, Mickelson's generosity was on display again when he volunteered to pay tuition for Holli Dobler, daughter of retired NFL player Conrad Dobler, after hearing about the family's struggles with medical bills.
2008: Mickelson inducted into National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
In 2008, Mickelson received recognition for his athletic achievements and heritage by being inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
2008: Mickelson wins Crowne Plaza Invitational with remarkable shot
Mickelson's win at the 2008 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial was memorable for a remarkable shot on the final hole. Despite a poor tee shot, he chose to hit a risky approach over a tree instead of playing it safe. The gamble paid off, landing him on the green and securing the win.
2008: Start of Walters' Insider Trading Activities
This entry marks the beginning of Billy Walters' illegal insider trading activities in 2008, which would later involve Phil Mickelson and lead to legal consequences.
2009: Mickelson returns to golf, finishes second at U.S. Open
Following positive news about his wife Amy's cancer treatment, Mickelson returned to the PGA Tour in June 2009. He participated in the St. Jude Classic and the U.S. Open, where he finished second, marking his fifth time as runner-up in this prestigious tournament.
2009: Amy Mickelson Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
In a difficult turn of events in 2009, Amy Mickelson was diagnosed with breast cancer, leading Phil to put his PGA Tour participation on hold indefinitely to support her treatment. This news led to an outpouring of support from the golfing community, including John Daly wearing pink trousers and the PGA Tour organizing a "Pink Out" event at the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
2009: Mickelson wins Tour Championship, finishes second in FedEx Cup
In a strong finish to the 2009 season, Mickelson secured a victory at The Tour Championship, his second win at this event. This victory placed him second overall in the FedEx Cup standings for the year, trailing Tiger Woods.
2009: Mickelson wins Northern Trust Open and first World Golf Championship
Mickelson kicked off 2009 with a win at the Northern Trust Open, his 35th PGA Tour victory, moving him past Vijay Singh into second place for most career wins at that time. He followed this with another victory at the WGC-CA Championship, marking his first World Golf Championship win.
2010: Third Masters Tournament Win
Phil Mickelson won his third Masters Tournament in 2010.
2010: Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosis and Endorsement
Phil Mickelson was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2010. Following his treatment with Enbrel, he began endorsing the drug.
2010: Mickelson finishes T4 at U.S. Open, continues pursuit of world No. 1
Despite entering the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach as a favorite, Mickelson's performance resulted in a tie for fourth place. This tournament marked another instance in 2010 where he was in contention for the world No. 1 ranking but couldn't secure the top spot.
2010: Mickelson Wins Third Masters Tournament
In 2010, Mickelson won his third Masters Tournament, securing his fourth major championship. His win was notable for a remarkable third-round performance where he climbed the leaderboard with two eagles, narrowly missing a third.
2010: Mickelson's Masters win overshadowed by Woods' return, misses world No. 1
Despite Mickelson's 2010 Masters victory, the tournament was significantly marked by Tiger Woods' return to golf after a scandal. Woods' strong performance and the media attention surrounding his return somewhat overshadowed Mickelson's accomplishment. Additionally, despite having opportunities, Mickelson was unable to claim the world No. 1 ranking that year, which eventually went to Lee Westwood.
2011: Mickelson's Endorsement Earnings
In 2011, Phil Mickelson was estimated to be the second-highest-paid athlete in the United States, with endorsements making up a substantial portion of his income, totaling $53 million out of his $62 million earnings.
2011: Mickelson's near miss at Farmers Insurance Open
Mickelson's 2011 season began with a near victory at the Farmers Insurance Open. He tied for the lead but narrowly missed a playoff opportunity against Bubba Watson, who won the tournament.
2012: Challenges and Setbacks
During the 2012 season, Mickelson faced challenges including mental fatigue, leading to his withdrawal from the Memorial Tournament after a first-round 79. He also experienced putting problems, resulting in missed cuts at the Greenbrier Classic and the Open Championship.
2012: 2012 PGA Tour Season
In 2012, Mickelson started his PGA Tour season with a tie for 49th at the Humana Challenge, missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, and then secured his 40th career victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am with a final round score of 64. He also lost in a three-way playoff at the Northern Trust Open but moved back into the world's top 10.
2012: Dean Foods Trades
In 2012, Phil Mickelson was investigated for trades made in Dean Foods stock, which resulted in a profit of over $931,000, leading to allegations of insider trading.
2012: Bubba Watson's First Masters Win
Left-handed golfer Bubba Watson won the Masters in 2012.
2012: 2012 FedEx Cup Playoffs and Ryder Cup
Mickelson started using the claw putting grip during the 2012 FedEx Cup Playoffs. He finished T38 at The Barclays, tied for 4th at the Deutsche Bank Championship, and tied for 2nd at the BMW Championship. He finished tied for 15th at the Tour Championship and had a 3-1 record in the Ryder Cup, although the USA team lost the event.
2012: World Golf Hall of Fame Induction
Phil Mickelson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012.
2013: Open Championship Win
Phil Mickelson won the Open Championship in 2013.
2013: Mickelson Leads PGA Tour in Birdie Average
Phil Mickelson led the PGA Tour in birdie average in 2013, showcasing his strong performance during his prime.
2013: Start of 2013 Season
Mickelson began 2013 with a T37 finish at the Humana Challenge and a disappointing T51 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open.
2013: Second Place at AT&T Pebble Beach and Winless Drought
Mickelson finished second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, narrowly missing a playoff. He had held the lead going into the final round, marking his first 54-hole lead since the 2013 U.S. Open. He aimed to end a winless streak that had persisted since his 2013 Open Championship victory.
2013: Mickelson's Previous Win at the 2013 Open Championship
In 2013, Phil Mickelson won the Open Championship, marking his last victory before his win at the WGC-Mexico Championship in 2018.
2013: 2013 Open Championship Win
In 2013, Mickelson achieved a significant victory at the Open Championship.
May 30, 2014: Insider Trading Investigation Begins
The Wall Street Journal reported on May 30, 2014, that the FBI and SEC were investigating Phil Mickelson for potential insider trading related to Clorox and Dean Foods stock.
2014: End of Walters' Insider Trading Activities
By 2014, Billy Walters' insider trading activities, which involved Phil Mickelson, had come to an end, resulting in a conviction and legal repercussions.
2014: Bubba Watson's Second Masters Win
Left-handed golfer Bubba Watson won the Masters for the second time in 2014.
2015: New Swing Coach
Following his departure from Butch Harmon, Mickelson hired Andrew Getson as his new swing coach. They worked extensively on improving Mickelson's swing during the 2015 offseason.
2015: Forbes Income Estimation
In 2015, Forbes estimated Phil Mickelson's annual income to be $51 million.
2015: Victory at the Open Championship
In 2015, Mickelson won his fifth major title at the Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Links, marking the first time anyone won both the Scottish Open and The Open Championship in the same year. He shot a final round of 66, securing a three-stroke victory, and expressed profound emotions after the win, contrasting it with his previous loss at the U.S. Open.
2015: Second Place Finish at the Masters
Leading up to the 2015 Masters, Mickelson's best finish was a tie for 17th. At the Masters, he finished tied for second with Justin Rose, four strokes behind Jordan Spieth. This marked his tenth second-place finish in a major, a record second only to Jack Nicklaus.
2015: Results Not in Chronological Order
The results provided for this entry are not in chronological order and predate the year 2015.
May 19, 2016: Named as Relief Defendant
On May 19, 2016, the SEC named Phil Mickelson as a relief defendant in a complaint alleging insider trading related to Dean Foods stock, though he avoided criminal charges.
2016: Return to Competition and Top Finishes
Mickelson began 2016 with a tie for third at the CareerBuilder Challenge, marking his highest finish in a calendar year's first worldwide start since winning the same event in 2004. This was only his fifth top-five finish since his 2013 Open Championship win.
2016: Surgeries, Return, and Consistent Performances
In late 2016, Mickelson underwent two sports hernia surgeries, raising concerns about his recovery time. He made a faster-than-expected return at the CareerBuilder Challenge, finishing T-21. The following weeks saw him achieve a T-14 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open and a T-16 finish at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, showcasing his resilience and consistent performance.
2017: Walters Convicted in Insider Trading Case
In 2017, Billy Walters, who was involved in the insider trading case with Phil Mickelson, was convicted of making $40 million from insider information between 2008 and 2014.
2018: Controversial Penalty at the U.S. Open
During the third round of the 2018 U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson received a two-stroke penalty for hitting a moving ball on purpose on the 13th hole, sparking controversy.
2018: Team USA's Loss at the 2018 Ryder Cup
Phil Mickelson was part of Team USA at the 2018 Ryder Cup, where they were defeated by Team Europe.
December 2019: Mickelson Announces Participation in Saudi International
In December 2019, Phil Mickelson revealed his decision to play in the 2020 Saudi International tournament, marking his first time missing the Waste Management Phoenix Open since 1989.
February 2020: Mickelson's Performance at the Saudi International
Phil Mickelson finished tied for third at the 2020 Saudi International tournament in February 2020.
June 16, 2020: Mickelson's 50th Birthday and PGA Tour Champions Debut
On June 16, 2020, Phil Mickelson turned 50, making him eligible for the PGA Tour Champions. He made his debut on the tour in August 2020.
October 2020: Mickelson's Second Win on PGA Tour Champions
Phil Mickelson achieved his second victory on the PGA Tour Champions in October 2020 by winning the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Virginia.
2020: Results Not in Chronological Order
The results provided for this entry are not in chronological order within the year 2020.
February 2021: Mickelson's Near Miss for a Historic Three-Win Streak
In February 2021, Phil Mickelson aimed to become the first player in PGA Tour Champions history to win his first three tournaments but fell short, finishing tied for 20th in the Cologuard Classic.
May 2021: Mickelson's Historic PGA Championship Win
Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship in May 2021, becoming the oldest major champion at the age of 50.
October 2021: Mickelson's Third Win on PGA Tour Champions
Phil Mickelson secured his third victory on the PGA Tour Champions in October 2021 by winning the inaugural Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament.
November 2021: Mickelson Wins Charles Schwab Cup Championship
In November 2021, Phil Mickelson won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, marking his fourth win in six starts on the PGA Tour Champions.
2021: Second PGA Championship Win
Phil Mickelson won his second PGA Championship in 2021, becoming the oldest major championship winner in history at 50 years, 11 months, and 7 days old.
2021: Mickelson's Career Statistics as of 2021
This entry provides an overview of Phil Mickelson's career statistics as of the 2021 season.
2021: Mickelson's PGA Championship Win and Subsequent Withdrawal
Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship in 2021 but withdrew from the tournament in 2022 after facing criticism for his comments about Saudi Arabia.
June 6, 2022: Mickelson Joins LIV Golf
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman announced Phil Mickelson's participation in the first event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series on June 6, 2022.
2022: Sponsor Loss Due to LIV Golf Comments
Phil Mickelson faced backlash and lost several sponsors in 2022 after making controversial comments about the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, including its connection to human rights issues.
2023: Mickelson's Impressive Performance at the Masters
Phil Mickelson delivered a remarkable performance at the 2023 Masters Tournament, finishing tied for second after starting the final day ten shots behind the leader.
2024: Nick Dunlap Wins The American Express
Nick Dunlap won The American Express in 2024 as an amateur.