You will have read the headlines by now, and most golf fans will be well aware of the significance of Phil Mickelson’s PGA Championship win last weekend. The American (50) became the oldest ever winner of a Major, breaking a 53-year-old record held by Julius Boros, who was 48 when he won the PGA in 1968.
However, to say it was unexpected is something of an understatement. Golf pro Adam Sagar, who provides golf coverage for MansionBet, asked in his PGA preview column whether there “Will there be another fairytale winner of the PGA Championship?”. But few expected Mickelson to be that man.
That’s not to do the six-time Major winner a disservice. We all know who Mickelson is – arguably the best player of his generation after Tiger Woods. But there were few signs that Mickelson could pull something out of the bag before the tournament. His record leading up to Kiawah Island read: 69th, CUT, 21st, CUT, 25th, 35th, CUT, 53rd, CUT, 55th, CUT.
Mickelson had little form before the PGA
We won’t spend too much time looking at Mickelson’s travails over the last few seasons, because he has obviously made critics eat their words. But the results simply weren’t there. He had fallen out of the world’s top 100, although he has shot back up to 35th after the PGA Championship win. He was set to receive a special wildcard entry to the US Open next month, but that’s another problem solved by the spectacular victory – he now goes to Torrey Pines on his own merit.
But there were also signs of the old magic, even during Mickelson’s poor run over the winter and spring months. Despite struggling, the television cameras would often return to the over-par Mickelson – often with a smile on his face – to give us a glimpse of his craft: A delicate chip from the bunker; a long putt to save par; a delicious iron shot from an awkward position to land safely on the green. Like Tiger Woods, Mickelson remained box-office even when he was not on the top of his game.
And yet, what always remained with Mickelson was his nous. A sense that he could read the course and his own game better than anyone else. The body might not have always done what he commanded, but nobody would doubt Mickelson’s golf brain. And, as the world’s top players struggled in the wind at Kiawah Island, it was nous that won out for Mickelson. Indeed, it’s no coincidence that other ‘golden oldies’, like Padraig Harrington and Paul Casey, also finished in the top 5.
Johnson will return to the US Open as favourite
When the US Open (17th – 20th June) comes around next month, the natural order will probably be restored. At the time of writing, Dustin Johnson is the favourite with the bookmakers – despite missing the cut at the PGA and the Masters in April. Mickelson is considered a 50/1 shot – he was around twice that price before the fairytale at Kiawah Island.
Fairytales don’t tend to happen twice in golf, and few punters will be backing Mickelson to complete the career Major Grand Slam. But his victory last weekend showed there is always a place for craft and nous in a game that is becoming more obsessed with strength and power. And, if the elements are against the players’ strategies at Torrey Pines or Royal St George’s for The Open in July, look out for Mickelson – the man with a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C ready to go.