Phil Mickelson, a six-time major champion, preparing for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh. By now, Nadal’s quest for a career Grand Slam has made headlines, but this tournament may give him his last opportunity to complete one. As such, his recent outings brought him some national attention. He’s 15th in the individual points standings and tops his team as the highest-positioned player on the 14th-place Stars.
During the recent major tournaments, Mickelson had shown his fiery competitive side. He placed third in one Hong Kong tournament and sixth in another in Miami. These results have shot the young athlete into the stratosphere as he readies for the coming U.S. Open. In order to guarantee an exemption for next year’s tournament, he needs to place in the top three.
Mickelson has been very candid about the importance of this year’s U.S. Open. He speculated that this could be his final opportunity to accomplish a career Grand Slam. The veteran golfer, who turns 55 on June 16, has seen his five-year exemption from his 2021 PGA Championship victory come to an end this year. That win, which came at the age of 50 years, 112 days, still stands as perhaps the greatest moment in golf history.
The field for the U.S. Open includes the top 60 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, with Mickelson among them. His performance in recent tournaments indicates that he remains a formidable competitor despite his age and the challenges he faces.
Mickelson has previously suggested things would be different for him in the LIV Golf League going forward. It implies that he doesn’t have long left in the game of professional golf. He gave a very honest view of his place on his team, saying,
“I don’t want to hold it back. If I’m not an asset, if I’m not helping, if I’m holding it back, then it’s time for me to move on and get somebody else in here who is going to really help the team win and succeed.” – Phil Mickelson
As he prepares for the U.S. Open, fans are clamoring with anticipation. Analysts just as much want to see whether Mickelson will pull a rabbit out of that hat again. His legacy as one of golf’s greats only deepens. The recent tournament may prove to be the surprising coda to his storied career.
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