US PGA Championship: I always believed but there was a lot of doubt – Mickelson after ending drought
![Phil Mickelson holding a glass of water: Phil Mickelson with the US PGA Championship trophy]({"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"45","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAKiZ3N.img?h=450&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=919&y=163"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"35","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAKiZ3N.img?h=351&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=919&y=163"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"35","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAKiZ3N.img?h=351&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=919&y=163"}})
Mickelson, 50, became the 14th golfer to win six or more majors in his career on Sunday
Mickelson is the oldest major winner in history at 50 years, 11 months old after his win at Kiawah Island
Phil Mickelson will turn 51 years old just one day before the U.S. Open later this summer. He had last won a major championship in 2013 with his career-best run coming in the mid-aughts. And yet, on the longest course ever at a major under blistering heat and with winds swirling, he made history as the oldest major championship winner by capturing the 103rd PGA Championship at 50 years, 11 months, seven days old.
For Mickelson, it’s the sixth major championship and 45th PGA Tour win of his career. He has won the PGA Championship before, in 2005, and that 16-year gap between wins ranks among the most impressive in the history of the sport.
The previous record for oldest major winner was held by Julius Boros, who at 48 years, four months and 18 days old won the PGA Championship in 1968. The second and third-oldest major champions, Tom Morris Sr. and Jack Nicklaus, were both 46 years old.
“PHIL DEFEATS FATHER TIME.” pic.twitter.com/24QN2M9xRU
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 23, 2021
Mickelson’s mark puts the final stamp on a certified Hall of Fame career and sets up for a fascinating summer as he chases the career grand slam at the U.S. Open. He received a special exemption for the U.S. Open just one week ago but has now stunningly made it on the merits of his game after an eight-year drought between majors and more than two-year gap between PGA Tour wins was closed.
A thrilling 2021 PGA Championship met an extraordinary conclusion Sunday afternoon as Phil Mickelson became the oldest major championship winner in golf history with his 6-under 282 giving him a two-stroke victory over Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen (-4) for the Wanamaker Trophy. Mickelson, 50, is now just the 14th man to win six or more majors in his career.
A 200-1 longshot entering the 103rd PGA Championship on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, Mickelson won his sixth major an astounding 2,863 days after his last. It is just the third tournament he has won over the last eight years since taking the 2013 Open Championship and the first time he finished better than T71 at the PGA Championship since 2016.
At 50 years, 11 months and six days old, Mickelson broke the previous record long held by Julius Boros, who won the PGA Championship at 48 years, 4 months and 18 days old in 1968. Lefty is three weeks shy of his 51st birthday and will be another year older when he makes a run at the U.S. Open, the lone major he has yet to win and one that has kept him from capturing the career grand slam.
Watch the Wanamaker Trophy presentation from the 103rd PGA Championship streaming LIVE now on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports App and Paramount+.
The co-leader through 36 holes and solo leader through 54 holes, Mickelson had a dramatic start to his final round with three birdies and three bogeys over the front nine. He lost, tied and regained the lead before opening a five-stroke advantage at 8 under through the 12th.
The most memorable moment of Mickelson’s unforgettable weekend came Sunday on the par-3 5th when he holed out from a sandy area to an incredible ovation. Lefty had been 1 over on the day before that incredible shot dropped.
“OH MY GRACIOUS!”
PHIL JUST DID THAT. pic.twitter.com/wA3hu2cNxG
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 23, 2021
By the time Mickelson called the tournament down the stretch Sunday, he had achieved 22 birdies — a personal record at a PGA Championship — and his first overall victory since he took the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February 2019.
What an EPIC scene as Phil walks up the 18th fairway at the #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/xvmc0oOaQf
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) May 23, 2021
Check out the complete leaderboard and keep on scrolling for analysis and highlights from the PGA Championship.
Live updates
Last 2 @PGAChampionship winners
2020: Collin Morikawa, age 23, wins in his 2nd major start
2021: Phil Mickelson, age 50, wins in his 112th major start
I love this sport
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 23, 2021
Last 2 @PGAChampionship winners
2020: Collin Morikawa, age 23, wins in his 2nd major start
2021: Phil Mickelson, age 50, wins in his 112th major start
I love this sport
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 23, 2021
We’ve got something new for you @MuseeLouvre 👍 pic.twitter.com/fxHTcAEeCA
— The First Cut Podcast (@FirstCutPod) May 23, 2021
30 YEARS after his first victory, Phil Mickelson is still winning.
His first career win came at the 1991 Northern Telcom Open – the longest span between first and latest wins EVER. pic.twitter.com/ewGoAO7gRG
— GOLFonCBS (@GOLFonCBS) May 23, 2021
Break out the 🍾 @PhilMickelson is your 2021 PGA Champion #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/vCGrMHIUTr
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) May 23, 2021
HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE!
Phil Mickelson wins the PGA Championship, becoming the oldest player to ever win a major. pic.twitter.com/4rtLwD6pSz
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 23, 2021
Your winner of 2021 PGA Championship. pic.twitter.com/3JzRMJup0E
— Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) May 23, 2021
“Phil defeats Father Time”#PGAChamp
— The First Cut Podcast (@FirstCutPod) May 23, 2021
“PHIL DEFEATS FATHER TIME.” pic.twitter.com/24QN2M9xRU
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 23, 2021
HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE!
Phil Mickelson wins the PGA Championship, becoming the oldest payer to ever win a major. pic.twitter.com/iTgsguCqMm
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 23, 2021
There have been 456 professional major championships in men’s golf history, dating back to the 1860 Open Championship.
1 winner age 50 or older: @PhilMickelson
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 23, 2021
Historic.#PGAChamp | @PhilMickelson pic.twitter.com/rxASGuWp2w
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 23, 2021
History at Kiawah. Congratulations, @PhilMickelson #pgachamp pic.twitter.com/3qPwpNk1lB
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 23, 2021
5th runner-up in a major for Louis Oosthuizen since 2012, most of any player in that span
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 23, 2021
KP has been begging for this 18th green chaos all week https://t.co/XhPmp78I2z
— The First Cut Podcast (@FirstCutPod) May 23, 2021
What a scene right now at Kiawah#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/Dxo38WF04r
— The First Cut Podcast (@FirstCutPod) May 23, 2021
Phil Mickelson won a PGA Tour Champions event in Missouri 10 months ago
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 23, 2021
What a shot!#PGAChamp | @PhilMickelson pic.twitter.com/jZefCiCcZo
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 23, 2021
All eyes on Phil. pic.twitter.com/7pspQIFpni
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 23, 2021
20-year-old Rasmus Hojgaard shot 75 today and will finish in 79th place at the PGA Championship.
On the day Rasmus was born, Phil Mickelson already had 18 PGA Tour wins.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 23, 2021
One hole to go.#PGAChamp | @PhilMickelson pic.twitter.com/tfE3pvigMq
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 23, 2021
Walking towards history?
Phil heads to the 18th tee with a two-shot lead in the PGA Championship on CBS. pic.twitter.com/d1V2EMkqNZ
— GOLFonCBS (@GOLFonCBS) May 23, 2021
Louis Oosthuizen made 2 putts longer than 8 feet this weekend.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 23, 2021
An unbelievable scene. pic.twitter.com/dqpX0lroBS
— GOLFonCBS (@GOLFonCBS) May 23, 2021
An unbelievable scene. pic.twitter.com/dqpX0lroBS
— GOLFonCBS (@GOLFonCBS) May 23, 2021
Can’t stress this enough
Phil Mickelson, strokes gained tee to green this season
Entering this week: 176th
This week: 1st— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 23, 2021
Phil Mickelson
| Phil Mickelson | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mickelson at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
|
|||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Full name | Philip Alfred Mickelson | ||||
| Nickname | Lefty | ||||
| Born | June 16, 1970 San Diego, California |
||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1] | ||||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st) | ||||
| Nationality |  |
||||
| Spouse | Amy (née McBride) (m. 1996) |
||||
| Children | 3 | ||||
| Career | |||||
| College | Arizona State University | ||||
| Turned professional | 1992 | ||||
| Current tour(s) | PGA Tour (joined 1992) PGA Tour Champions |
||||
| Professional wins | 55 | ||||
| Highest ranking | 2 (February 11, 2001)[2] | ||||
| Number of wins by tour | |||||
| PGA Tour | 45 (8th all time) | ||||
| European Tour | 10 | ||||
| Asian Tour | 1 | ||||
| Sunshine Tour | 1 | ||||
| PGA Tour of Australasia | 1 | ||||
| Challenge Tour | 1 | ||||
| PGA Tour Champions | 2 | ||||
| Other | 4 | ||||
| Best results in major championships (wins: 6) |
|||||
| Masters Tournament | Won: 2004, 2006, 2010 | ||||
| PGA Championship | Won: 2005, 2021 | ||||
| U.S. Open | 2nd/T2: 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013 | ||||
| The Open Championship | Won: 2013 | ||||
| Achievements and awards | |||||
|
|||||
Philip Alfred Mickelson (born June 16, 1970), nicknamed Lefty, is an American professional golfer. He has won 45 events on the PGA Tour, including six major championships: three Masters titles (2004, 2006, 2010), two PGA Championships (2005, 2021), and one Open Championship (2013). With his win at the 2021 PGA Championship, Phil became the oldest major championship winner in history.
Mickelson is one of 12 players in the history of golf to win three of the four majors. He has won every major except the U.S. Open, where he has finished runner-up a record six times.
Mickelson has spent over 25 consecutive years in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He has spent over 700 weeks in the top-10, has reached a career-high world ranking of No. 2 several times and is a life member of the PGA Tour. Though naturally right-handed, he is known for his left-handed swing, having it learned by mirroring his right-handed father’s swing. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012.
Here is a look at the top 10 oldest major winners, according to PGATour.com.
Oldest golf major championship winners
| Golfer | Tournament | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Phil Mickelson | 2021 PGA Championship | 50 years, 11 months, 7 days |
| Julius Boros | 1968 PGA Championship | 48 years, 4 months, 18 days |
| Tom Morris Sr. | 1867 The Open Championship | 46 years, 3 months, 10 days |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1986 Masters Tournament | 46 years, 2 months, 23 days |
| Jerry Barber | 1961 PGA Championship | 45 years, 3 months, 6 days |
| Hale Irwin | 1990 U.S. Open Championship | 45 years, 14 days |
| Lee Trevino | 1984 PGA Championship | 44 years, 8 months, 18 days |
| Robert De Vincenzo | 1967 The Open Championship | 44 years, 3 months, 1 day |
| Harry Vardon | 1914 The Open Championship | 44 years, 1 month, 10 days |
| Raymond Floyd | 1986 U.S. Open Championship | 43 years, 9 months, 11 days |
| Ted Ray | 1920 U.S. Open Championship | 43 years, 4 months, 16 days |
