The Phil of Victory

Mickelson’s historic major win continues a story with Colorado ties.

By Jon Rizzi

Colorado golf fans just can’t seem to get their fill of Phil.

Ever since Phil Mickelson won the 1990 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills, the Centennial State has had a special connection to the naturally right-handed Lefty from San Diego with the aw-shucks, thumbs-up demeanor and sniper-like short game.

That connection intensified during his two wins in The International at Castle Pines; his triumphs in three Masters, two PGAs and an Open Championship; and in the six excruciating runner-up finishes—especially those at Winged Foot and Merion—that have kept his name from appearing on the U.S. Open trophy.

Mickelson’s popularity certainly isn’t confined to our state, but it is an affection strong enough to withstand insider-trading allegations, high-stakes gambling controversies and even his performance at the 2014 BMW Championship at Cherry Hills.

At the BMW, the flop-shot wizard was just a flop—finishing Friday’s action 14 shots off the lead and tied for 63rd in the 70-player field. He cut himself from the no-cut field after Friday’s action, despite being one of the tournament’s main attractions. The only Phil sightings around Denver on Saturday and Sunday were on the enormous billboards and banners used to promote the event.

Mickelson, who excused himself by saying he needed to rest for the Ryder Cup, was in rare form after the U.S. team lost the biennial matches, publicly challenging captain Tom Watson’s management of the team.

Phil’s Colorado cadre forgave and forgot, much like the acolytes of Tiger Woods eventually did his transgressions.

And just like on Masters Sunday in 2019, Phil’s fans will long remember and rejoice at their man’s performance in this year’s PGA Championship. Last Sunday, as the world knows, he became the oldest player—at the advanced age of 50 years, 11 months and 7 days—ever to win a major.

This puts his majors total at six—the same number as his record number of bridesmaid finishes in the U.S. Open. Next month, with the U.S. Open coming to Torrey Pines, just minutes from his hometown, Mickelson could become the event’s oldest winner ever, eclipsing Colorado’s favorite son, Hale Irwin, by six years. Then again, it could become his 30^th start without a victory, putting him just one shy of the dubious record held by Sam Snead.

Either way, Phil, as always, will be a fan favorite. His aggressive lines, Houdini-like escapes and short-game sorcery inspire awe and imitation, and his 300-yard drives give every quinquagenarian in Colorado and elsewhere an excuse to keep swinging from the tips.

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Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. CAG publishes eight issues annually and delivers daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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