Phil Mickelson, America’s second best golfer (Part 1)
If there’s any American player after Tiger Woods, who is famous for golf, it would have to be the charming Phil Mickelson. Having won four major championships and 38 events on the PGA Tour, he has worked his way up to the world number 2 ranking. This is
what Mickelson or more commonly known as “lefty” is all about.
Phil was born in San Diego, California and he grew up there and in Arizona. Even though the player is right –handed, he uses his left hand for the golf swings. Due to his unique way of playing, Mickelson is now known as ‘lefty’ as well.
When asked why he uses his left hand, he said that he used to learn by watching his right-handed father swing. Mickelson began mirroring it and hence used his left hand. Phil attended University of San Diego High School in 1988 and then he graduated from
Arizona State University. Due to his amazing golf, Mickelson secured a golf scholarship from University, which he graduated from in 1992.
His time at Arizona State is something lefty will never forget. During those years, he became the epitome of Amateur golf in the United States. Mickelson achieved three NCAA individual championships and three Haskins Awards as the outstanding collegiate
golfer. Phil was the second college student who, earned first team All-American honours for four years straight.
In 1990, he became the first left-hander to win the U.S Amateur title. The greatest achievement for Lefty was definitely in 1991 when he won his first PGA Tour event which was the Northern Telecom Open. This made him the fourth player in PGA history to have
such a tremendous honour. Scott Verplank won the 1985 Western Open and hence was the first person, who as an amateur won a PGA Tour event.
Phil Mickelson became a professional golfer in 1992 right after his graduation. Since he won in Tucson in 1991, he was able to avoid the qualifying process. After turning pro, Mickelson won more and more tournaments.
His victories include the World Series of Golf in 1996 and the Byron Nelson Golf Classic. He won the At&t Pebble Beach National Pro-am in 1998 and the Colonial National Invitational in 2000. The Greater Hartford Open in 2001 and 2002 are also included in
his achievements. Mickelson beat Tiger Woods at the Buick Invitational in 2000 and ending his back to back tournament winning streak.
At the PGA Grand Slam of gold, lefty carded a round of 59 in November 2004. His game is still remembered as powerful but not accurate. His short game and his charismatic ‘Phil flop’ are also very popular.
Even with so many accomplishments, Phil was known as the ‘best golfer never to win a major’. No one says that Mickelson didn’t play good. The golf star did have many third place and second place finishes in various majors between 1999 and 2003.
A caddy is someone who carries the golfer’s equipment around the course, and offers advice and moral support during the game. Looking at those attributes, a caddie is therefore an important person.
Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay has been Phil’s caddie ever since joining the PGA Tour. Being a tour member for over fifteen years and having more than twenty victories, Phil now has an exemption for his whole life. Phil has been ranked in the final ten every year since
1996. Despite so many opportunities, unfortunately, Lefty has never been in the number one spot.
After so much hard work, Phil was finally triumphant in a major championship in 2004 when he won at the Masters. He won with an 18-foot final hole birdie as he beat Ernie Els in a duel where they hit birdies and eagles back and forth. With this victory,
Lefty was now the third player with a left handed swing to win a major.
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