Fans flocked to the fairway on the 18th at Kiawah Island as Phil Mickelson closed in on his historic win (Image: Getty Images)
Phil Mickelson is one of the greatest players of the modern era, and he made history when he won the PGA Championship in 2021 – but he was unable to defend his crown a year later
LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson has arrived in Valhalla to take part in the PGA Championship – and the American can never be ruled out of contention.
Although he’s no longer qualifying via the rankings as LIV Golf stars don’t earn ranking points, Mickelson still receives invites to most of the majors as a former winner. He is a six-time major champion, with perhaps his most famous victory coming when he won his second PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in 2021.
The victory ensured Mickelson made history, as he became the oldest major championship winner in history at the age of 50 years, 11 months, and 7 days. He held the 54-hole lead heading into the final day, shooting a final-round 73 to capture the title ahead of Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen by two strokes.
As Mickelson walked down the fairway following an excellent second shot from the rough on the 18th hole, thousands of fans surrounded him to cheer him on as he finished six-under to win the title. It was an iconic moment that pointed to Mickelson’s immense popularity.
The victory was also crucial in terms of securing invites to majors, as winning one of the four titles earns an invite to all four majors for the following five years. His 2021 heroics prove he cannot be dismissed due to age, but he was unfortunately unable to defend his title the following year.
Ahead of the 2022 PGA Championship, Mickelson withdrew and chose to extend his exile away from golf amid rumours he had agreed to turn his back on the PGA Tour and join LIV Golf. His decision came following incendiary comments made about the Saudi-backed series while he accused the PGA Tour of ‘obnoxious greed’.
In the wake of his comments, Mickelson lost several long-term sponsors, including KPMG, which led to his absence, including skipping a trip to Augusta for the first time since 1994. He went on to apologise for his comments, although still filed a request to play in the LIV Golf Invitational Series event – a move that led to the birth of LIV Golf and the divide in the professional game.
Mickelson’s comments sent shockwaves across the sport. He was heavily criticised for his comments, with several stars – including Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau – declaring their loyalty to the PGA Tour, only to then follow Mickelson to LIV Golf.
The 2024 PGA Championship is set to tee off on Thursday 16th May and will run through Sunday 19th May.
