Phil Mickelson: Player Profile
Who is Phil Mickelson?
Arguably the best player to never be World No.1, Phil Mickelson has had an incredible career. ‘Lefty’ is a six-time major champion, the oldest major champion ever, and now a member of the LIV Golf tour.
Mickelson had an amazing amateur career, winning the Haskins Award and the Jack Nicklaus award in three consecutive years, from 1990 to 1992. He won the US Amateur Championship, and topped it all off by becoming one of just seven golfers to win on the PGA Tour as an amateur. He did so at the Northern Telecom Open in 1991 and remains the last to do so. That win was also his debut event on the PGA Tour.
That victory was one of 45 on the PGA Tour over his 30-year career, a record that includes wins in three of the four major tournaments. He is a three-time Masters Tournament winner, two-time PGA Championship winner and the 2013 Open Champion. The only major he has not won is the US Open, where he has finished runner-up on a record six occasions, the last of those coming in 2013.
The last of his six major titles was a history-making win as well. He was victorious at Kiawah Island in 2021 to win the PGA Championship. At the age of 50, he became the oldest men’s major champion in golf. That year, he also won four times on the PGA Champions Tour, including the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
In 2022, Mickelson joined the breakaway LIV Golf tour, where he is the team captain of HyFlyers GC.
Phil Mickelson | An Overview
Personal Information
Name: Philip Alfred Mickelson
Born: June 16, 1970
Nationality: United States
Residence: Rancho Santa Fe, California, United States
Career
College: Arizona State University
Turned Pro: 1992
Professional Wins: 55
Highest World Ranking: 2 – February 2001
Best Results In Majors
Best Finishes:
– Masters Tournament – WON (2004, 2006, 2010)
– PGA Championship – WON (2005, 2021)
– US Open – 2nd/T2 (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013)
– Open Championship – WON (2013)
Professional Wins – 55
1991 (1) – Northern Telecom Open
1993 (3) – Buick Invitational of California, Tournoi Perrier de Paris, The International
1994 (1) – Mercedes Championships
1995 (1) – Northern Telecom Open
1996 (5) – Nortel Open, Phoenix Open, GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic, Ernst Championship, NEC World Series of Golf
1997 (2) – Bay Hill Invitational, Sprint International
1998 (2) – Mercedes Championships, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
2000 (4) – Buick Invitational, BellSouth Classic, MasterCard Colonial, Tour Championship
2001 (2) – Buick Invitational, Canon Greater Hartford Open
2002 (2) – Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Canon Greater Hartford Classic
2004 (3) – Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Masters Tournament, PGA Grand Slam of Golf
2005 (4) – FBR Open, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, BellSouth Classic, PGA Championship
2006 (2) – BellSouth Classic, Masters Tournament
2007 (4) – AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, The PLAYERS Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship, HSBC Champions
2008 (2) – Northern Trust Open, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
2009 (3) – Northern Trust Open, WGC-CA Championship, Tour Championship
2010 (1) – Masters Tournament
2011 (1) – Shell Houston Open
2012 (1) – AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
2013 (3) – Waste Management Phoenix Open, Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, Open Championship
2018 (1) – WGC-Mexico Championship
2019 (1) – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
2021 (1) – PGA Championship
Champions Tour:
2020 (2) – Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National, Dominion Energy Charity Classic
2021 (2) – Constellation Furyk & Friends, Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Achievements and Awards
Haskins Award – 1990, 1991, 1992
Jack Nicklaus Award – 1990, 1991, 1992
World Golf Hall of Fame – 2012
Phil Mickelson | What’s In His Bag?
The six-time major champion is part of the Callaway staff team, and plays the Paradym Triple Diamond driver, along with Apex hybrids and irons. He also uses the Chrome Soft X with Triple Track.
Phil Mickelson’s what’s in the bag can be seen in full here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Phil Mickelson
When and where was Phil Mickelson born?
Phil Mickelson was born on June 16, 1970, in San Diego, California. Mickelson began playing golf at a young age, learning the game from his father.
When did Phil Mickelson turn professional?
Mickelson turned professional in 1992, after a highly successful amateur and collegiate career.
Who is Phil Mickelson married to?
Mickelson’s wife Amy has been a constant throughout his career, after the pair met at Arizona State University in 1992. The pair got married four years later and have three children. Amanda, was born in 1999, with Sophia and Evan shortly following.
How many major championships has Phil Mickelson won?
As of April 2024, Phil Mickelson is a six-time major champion. He has won the Masters on three occasions, along with two PGA Championships and an Open Championship victory.
Did you Know?
Three Decade Major Winner
Mickelson is one of just ten players to have won major championships in three different decades, along with the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Lee Trevino.
Not Originally a Lefty
Despite being known for his left-handed swing, Mickelson is actually right-handed in all other activities. He learned to play golf by mirroring his father’s right-handed swing, which led to his distinctive left-handed golfing style.
Successful Collegiate Career
Mickelson had a stellar collegiate golf career at Arizona State University, where he won 16 tournaments, including three NCAA individual championships.
Winning Before Turning Professional
Mickelson won his first PGA Tour event, the Northern Telecom Open, in 1991 while he was still an amateur, making him one of only seven players to win a PGA event as an amateur in the history of the Tour.
Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation
Away from golf, Mickelson, along with his wife Amy, has been involved in numerous charitable activities, primarily through their foundation, focusing on youth and family initiatives.
Other Phil Mickelson Articles
Phil Mickelson’s caddie and brother retires from bag duties
Mickelson on why he shouldn’t be Ryder Cup captain
Mickelson wanted to bet $400k on 2012 Ryder Cup
Phil Mickelson: LIV Golf teams wouldn’t want Rory’s BS
Mickelson: LIV Golf prepares you for major championships
Mickelson heckled by sombrero-wearing fan at US Open
The inside story of Mickelson’s greatest ever shot – from those who were there
What do you make of Phil Mickelson’s career? Is it a shame that he could not complete the Career Grand Slam? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
Matt Coles
Mention a European country, and Matt will tell you which resorts make the National Club Golfer Top 100s: European Resorts list. He might even throw in who designed the golf course and how many rooms the hotel has got at each one…
Matt got into the game of golf from a young age, following his old man to the local golf club. He fell for the sport, and now can’t seem to go a day without thinking about how to improve his game (Thanks Dad!). Matt has been a member of Howley Hall GC in Leeds since 2020, and is just about managing to maintain a single-figure handicap. He likes to remind people that he once broke 75, but won’t tell people that it was on a shortened course during the winter.
He moved to Leeds after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours degree in Sports Journalism. Matt joined NCG after almost five years travelling the world with the Professional Squash Association, working on events in all four corners of the globe.
Matt currently plays a Cobra King LTDx driver and RadSpeed 3-wood. TaylorMade monopolise the rest of his bag, with a SIM UDI, M5 irons and both Milled Grind and HI-TOE wedges, along with a Monza Redline putter. He uses a Vice Pro Plus golf ball, because he’s a bit different…
Away from golf, Matt is a Manchester United fan, and a keen runner, having ran the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (his first and possibly last), in May 2023.
