Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson is an American professional golfer who has won six major championships over a career spanning more than three decades. Known by the nickname "Lefty" because he plays left-handed despite being right-handed in daily life, he became one of the most popular and accomplished golfers of his era, admired for his aggressive style and creative short game.

Early life

Mickelson was born in San Diego, California, and learned the game as a young child, famously developing his left-handed swing by mirroring his right-handed father. He became a standout amateur and attended Arizona State University, where he won multiple collegiate championships. While still an amateur, he won a PGA Tour event, an exceptionally rare achievement that signaled his potential before he turned professional.

Career

After turning professional in the early 1990s, Mickelson quickly established himself as a consistent winner on the PGA Tour. For years he was regarded as one of the best players never to win a major, before breaking through with victory at the Masters Tournament. He went on to capture the Masters multiple times, as well as the PGA Championship and the Open Championship, accumulating six major titles in total. His career was often framed alongside that of Tiger Woods, against whom he competed throughout his prime.

Mickelson became known for both spectacular successes and memorable near-misses, particularly at the U.S. Open, the one major he did not win despite finishing runner-up on several occasions. His flair, willingness to take risks and engaging personality made him a fan favorite and a fixture in major championship contention.

Recent work

In 2021 Mickelson won the PGA Championship at age 50, becoming the oldest player ever to win a major championship and adding a landmark achievement to his record. The following year he became one of the highest-profile players to join LIV Golf, the breakaway tour backed by Saudi Arabian investment, a move that placed him at the center of a major and contentious realignment in professional golf. His association with the new circuit drew significant attention and debate within the sport. Over the course of his career Mickelson accumulated more than forty PGA Tour victories, placing him among the most prolific winners in the tour's history, and he was a long-standing fixture in the United States team for the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Throughout his career Mickelson has also been known for his involvement in golf-related business ventures and charitable work, and he remains one of the sport's most recognizable figures.