The number two golfer in the Word Golf Rankings was going to be great from the beginning. With 40 professional wins and 33 of those on the PGA TOUR, Phil Mickelson is both a fan favorite and a contender.
Phil Mickelson had one of the most illustrious amateur careers of anyone currently on TOUR. Phil attended Arizona State University where he won three NCAA individual championships and won three Haskin’s Awards as the top individual golfer in the nation.
Mickelson’s career began with lots of "firsts". He was the first collegiate golfer to earn All-American honors all four years in school. In 1990, Phil won the U.S. Amateur, becoming the first left handed golfer to achieve this victory. Phil won his first PGA Tour event, the Northern Telcom Open as an amateur. It was just the fourth time an amateur has won an event in the history of the PGA Tour.
After turning pro in 1992, Mickelson began winning tournaments almost immediately. In his first ten years on tour, Phil amassed 20 victories, and climbed through the career earnings list to third all time. However, Phil was also often referred to as the ‘best player never to win a major.
Phil Mickelson thought this was a misnomer and redesigned his swing and mentality to prove it. In 2004, Phil defeated Ernie Els on Sunday at The Masters to claim his first major victory. In 2005 Mickelson won the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, and in 2006 Phil repeated his victory at The Masters for this third career Major victory in as many years.
Just as Phil exorcised major championships demons, they caught up with him again at the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. On the 72nd hole with the title all but wrapped up, Phil’s world came crashing down when he pulled out his driver and sliced his tee shot off a nearby tent and behind a tree. Rather than chip out and play for a bogey, Mickelson went for the green, caught a tree limb and fell straight down. When the carnage ended Mickelson was left with a six and had to watch Geoff Ogilvy accept the trophy while the world listened to Phil say, "I am such an idiot."
Winged Foot notwithstanding, Mickelson has over 35 victories around the world and has career PGA Tour earnings of over $47 million. With a place in the World Golf Hall of Fame firmly secured, his recent victories at The Players Championship and Riviera have Phil rounding well into form to make another run at the majors.
Mickelson is a favorite of many casual and serious golf fans. He always has a friendly smile on his face, and is more than willing to greet his fans. Never one to fear attempting a risky shot, he can hit the ball a country mile as well. While the go-for-broke power game may define him, his short game prowess has been Phil’s signature. Mickelson has one of the most creative minds around the green, and has the skill to make the most of any situation. There have only been a few players that have ever been as good as Lefty at the flop shot from a tight lie.
Just prior to the 2004 Ryder Cup, Mickelson left Titleist and signed with Callaway. Despite struggling a bit with the new equipment in the Ryder Cup, Phil has never looked back. In the 2004 Masters, Phil carried two FT-3 drivers. One was an inch longer and weighted for a power draw, and the other for a fade. Currently, Phil has an 8.5 degree FT-5 driver in the bag along with an X-Tour 13 degree fairway wood and 18 and 21 degree X-Tour hybrids. He carries 5-P Callaway X-Forged Prototype irons, and a 50, 55, and 60 degree X-Tour wedges. Phil’s putter is a PM prototype putter very similar to the XG #9 available at retail.
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Frank
Apr 2, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Phil is a great golfer and he appears to be a genuinely nice fellow. The Masters should be exciting and I hope he does well.
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habana
Apr 2, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Great article. Phil is my pick for the Masters winner this year, he has the every two years thing going.
What are the lofts of his irons? they must be really strong to make up the gap between the 21 degree hybrid and 5 iron and to make enough of a gap between PW and Gap wedge.
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