Phil Mickelson is not convinced he won't qualify for next year's U.S. Open
Phil Mickelson will have to qualify for the U.S. Open next year, after playing the event for the final time as an exempt player at Oakmont earlier this month.
Phil Mickelson has voiced confidence in his ability to qualify for the U.S. Open next year, despite acknowledging that this month’s event at Oakmont could have been his last appearance.
Heading into the 2025 U.S. Open, Mickelson understood he lacked an exemption to play in the tournament the following year. His performance in Pennsylvania didn’t secure a spot, as the LIV Golf regular missed the cut.
Despite a challenging week, the 55-year-old remains optimistic about his skills and intends to secure a spot in the U.S. Open with strong performances in the other three major championships.
“I said it’s very possibly my last, and I think that’s real,” Mickelson remarked regarding his U.S. Open future at LIV Dallas. “However, I also feel like I’m starting to play some good golf, and I’ve had — this year has been my best year on LIV.”
“I’ve had three top-6 finishes and some opportunities to win. If I play like that in some upcoming major championships, that could ultimately qualify me into another U.S. Open.
“I don’t want to say it’s my last. I actually think I’m playing well enough that if I can play at the level I’ve played at out here in majors again.”
“I’ll finish high enough to get into a U.S. Open via that qualifying avenue. So I don’t want to say that it is my last because I think I’m going to contend in the — I’m in the other three majors for a lot of years, and it could very well get me into the U.S. Open again.”
Despite his move to LIV Golf three years back, Mickelson hasn’t quite struck gold as he did on the PGA Tour, but the captain of the HyFlyers has been hinting at a return to form lately.
With three top-10 finishes this season, the venerable six-time major champion sits at 11th in the current standings.
The golf icon delivered his finest showing under the LIV banner earlier this year with a stellar third-place finish in Hong Kong back in March.
Mickelson continued his upswing by securing sixth place in Miami and then achieving a tie for fourth in Virgnina during his most recent outing.
Reflecting on his recent upturn, Mickelson revealed his thrill at being in the mix once more. “I really did have a lot of fun, and this is why I’ve been working hard is just to have the opportunities,” he said following his performance in Virginia not too long ago.
“I didn’t know how the result was going to play out, but every opportunity to play and compete in this situation is just so much fun, and I just cherish it, and I hope to have more.”
