History was made at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course on Monday morning as Phil Mickelson, a $201 chance in our PGA Championship market, became the oldest player in history to win a major.
The 50-year-old claimed his sixth major title by two strokes over Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen, much to the delight of a frenzied crowd that flocked the fairway on 18 to try and get a glimpse at one of golf’s most historic moments.
Phil has long been dubbed the fans’ favourite, but after a rather forgettable year that has seen him miss the cut on four occasions, a win this weekend seemed almost impossible.
Like only Phil can though, lefty put all of it aside to record a vintage Mickelson win.
In honour of one of the greatest to swing a club, here’s 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Phil Mickelson.
He’s Actually a Righty
Phil first swung a golf club at 18 months old after taking to the links at Pebble Beach under the guidance of his grandfather, who was a caddy at the venue.
Mickelson went on to mirror his father’s swing, who was a lefty, but in all other areas of life, he’s just a regular righty.
He’s Never Been World No. 1
Believe it or not Mickelson, a now six-time major winner, has never stood atop the world rankings.
Phil did sit No. 2 in the world for a total of 270 weeks though and also ranks third to only Tiger Woods and Ernie Els for the most weeks inside the Top 10 (775).
He Has His Pilot’s License
Mickelson’s father was a Navy pilot, so it’s no real surprise to learn he knows how to fly a plane.
Lefty earned his license back in the ‘90s, and while he doesn’t fly very often these days, he’s probably the one athlete you want on your flight if things go wrong.
His Wife Was an NBA Cheerleader
Amy Mickelson has been a big part of Phil’s image over the years.
The pair have been married since 1996 after they first met at Arizona State University a few years earlier.
Amy was a junior and also part of the Phoenix Suns’ cheerleading squad, before Phil, a senior, put the smooth moves on.
His Coach is an Aussie
Behind every great athlete is an even better mentor, and for Phil, it just so happens to be an Aussie.
Andrew Getson played professionally on the Nationwide Tour before progressing to coaching in 2009.
His resume features a long list of top names like Kevin Streelman and Si Woo Kim, but his biggest accomplishment by far has been coaching Phil to six major titles.
He Was a Psychology Major
As we all saw on Monday, it takes a special kind of person to deal with the pressure of thousands of fans following your every step into the final hole of a major.
Mickelson’s resiliency and calm demeanor has played a big part in his success over the last three decades, something he owes to his college studies as a Psychology major at Arizona State.
He’s a Chargers Fan
Born and raised in San Diego, lefty makes up one of the hundreds of Charger fans worldwide, although he wasn’t exactly a fan of their move to Los Angeles in 2017.
“I just wish that all the people in San Diego loved them the way I do and fought a little harder to keep them, but I understand it,” Mickelson told ESPN.
He Once Owned a $40 Million Jet
Up until recently, Mickelson flexed his winnings in the form of a multimillion-dollar Gulfstream jet.
At an estimated cost of $40 million, the jet featured two bathrooms with gold-plated basins, a private kitchen and several lounges, but maintenance and constant staffing issues have since seen Phil opt for a much simpler life.
Mickelson sold his jet earlier in the year after becoming partners with private jet provider Vista Global.
He Drinks Coffee All Day Long
If you fancy yourself a coffee connoisseur, prepare to be humbled.
After being diagnosed with arthritis several years ago, Mickelson’s doctor noticed that his immune system was out of whack, so his advice was to drink as much coffee and green tea extract as possible.
It’s unclear how many cups Mickelson actually drinks a day, but considering he created his own blend named ‘Coffee For Wellness’, we’re guessing it’s anywhere north of four.
His Net Worth is Estimated at $400 Million
Last but not least, the part you’ve all been waiting for.
According to Forbes, Mickelson’s net worth was close to $375 million, making him one of the Top 30 wealthiest celebrities in North America.
Winning majors has no doubt contributed massively to that number, but when you consider Mickelson has made over $750 million in endorsements throughout his career, it’s no wonder why that figure keeps on climbing.