![[original_title]](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/wine-2700091_960_720.jpg)
Phil Mickelson on the 2006 U.S. Open, one among his a number of shut calls.
NY Each day Information Archive through Getty Photographs
In Phil Research, college students converse of the 4 Levels of Phil: Prodigy Phil, Aw-Shucks Phil, Dangerous-Ass Phil — and his present stage.
Prodigy Phil was all dimples and promise. This Phil was a mega-talent, the low beginner within the 1990 and 1991 U.S. Opens and the winner of the ’90 U.S. Novice in between them. Outdated fingers on the USGA had by no means seen something like him, all that California attraction and left-handed, flop-shot magic. He was a USGA darling.
As a professional, he morphed into Aw-Shucks Phil. Phil on the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, when he was the runner-up to Payne Stewart, with Phil and Amy on child watch. Phil on the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage, when he was the runner-up to Tiger, in a interval when just about no one might beat Tiger, however Phil gave it the Lefty strive! Phil on the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, when he was runner-up to Retief Goosen and couldn’t be goaded into dissing the grassless greens. Phil on the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, when, after ending in a three-way tie for second, he appeared on the awards ceremony, whereas the opposite silver finishers, Jim Furyk and Colin Montgomerie, blew it off. Phil on the 2009 U.S. Open again at Bethpage, when Phil was the runner-up to Lucas Glover however provided thumbs-ups to anybody who regarded his approach — New York liked him — and rolled out with this message: Sometime.
Tiger Woods arrives at U.S. Open with a new coach — and 1 thing to prove
After which got here a sixth second, in 2013, on the U.S. Open at Merion, and the emergence of Dangerous-Ass Phil. This Phil fussed with Mike Davis of the USGA over the course setup, throughout the deadly fourth spherical. This Phil declined the USGA’s invitation to simply accept its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award. This Phil was within the World Golf Corridor of Fame however his days as an Institution golfer had been over.
It was Dangerous-Ass Phil who received the British Open at Muirfield, a month after Merion, and one among his messages was a USGA dig: A world-class course ought to by no means be tricked-up. It was BAP who took over the CBS broadcast on the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park for some of the entertaining hours within the historical past of televised golf, mocking Sir Nick, telling jokes, stealing the present. It was BAP who won the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah. He was 50 and ripped and he took down Brooks Koepka on Sunday with out ever eradicating his shades or his gum. It was BAP who went to LIV, recklessly dissing the Saudi billionaires who had been paying him so handsomely on his approach there. BAP has been dismissive of the USGA’s try to decelerate the golf ball and was vulgar in his evaluation of the USGA’s resolution to not supply Talor Gooch, Phil’s LIV Golf teammate, a spot in final 12 months’s U.S. Open area.
However that was then and that is now. Mickelson will flip 54 on the Sunday of this 12 months’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst and his golf, by his requirements — he tied for forty third at Augusta — has been mediocre. If he’s enjoying weekend golf on the U.S. Open, it will be an accomplishment. Phil himself has been saying for some time now that his probabilities of ever profitable a U.S. Open have just about come and gone, although not for lack of effort. The start of Acceptance Phil.
Phil is beginning to wrap issues up right here, within the slim space of his nationwide championship. He’s in subsequent 12 months’s area, through his 2021 PGA win, and he might attempt to qualify for Opens in 2026 and past, however it’s laborious to see him doing that. The USGA might supply Phil a send-off exemption, however it’s unlikely Phil would settle for it. The fracture within the USGA-Mickelson relationship is deep. What a disgrace. Phil Mickelson has been one of many monumental figures in USGA historical past. They want counseling.
Phil Mickelson has received the Masters 3 times, the PGA Championship twice, the British Open as soon as. Like Sam Snead earlier than him, he’ll possible all the time be one U.S. Open wanting the profession Grand Slam. Phil is aware of the rating: Six seconds, no wins, and that abstract will observe him endlessly. It’s confounding however wistfully stunning too. Isn’t there one thing mournful and beautiful about not having all of it?
