By Rahul Banerji
On 16, Phil Mickelson hit his drive to 366 yards, six yards longer than playing partner Brooks Koepka. It put both his hands firmly on the Wanamaker Trophy.
From day two of the 103rd PGA Championship, it had become clear that if anyone was to stop ‘Lefty’ Mickelson at the Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course it would be Mickelson himself.
He has been here before on Sundays, but somehow not closed it out.
Warning bells for those in chase had sounded earlier, on the par-3 fifth when Mickelson holed his second shot from the bunker to fire up the chants of “Lefty, Lefty” that would follow the group till the end.
The drama began early on Sunday with a two-shot swing. Mickelson bogeyed, Koepka birdied.
On the very next hole, Koepka, himself a two-time PGA winner in 2018 and 2019, double-bogeyed to hand the advantage back. This time, the swing was of three shots.
Despite the brilliant fifth, Mickelson surrendered the advantage yet again to Koepka who birdied six to draw level.
Kevin Streelman held the lead too briefly while 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen was an ever-present threat till he found the water on 13 for a double after birdie on 12.
Mickelson (70-69-70-73) though would not be denied,
Making history
He carried on to in a bid to rewrite golf history by becoming the oldest player to win a Major title, by two shots over Koepka (69-71-70-74) and South Africa’s Oosthuizen (71-68-72-73).
At 50 years, 11 months and seven days, Lefty claimed his sixth Major and 45th PGA Tour title with a closing 1-over 73.
It saw him replace Julius Boros (48 years, 4 months, 18 days, 1968 PGA Championship) as the oldest Major champion.
Mickelson, who took a one-shot lead into the final round, also joined Sam Snead, Davis Love III and Raymond Floyd to win in four different decades on the PGA Tour.
“I mean this is just an incredible feeling. Just believed that this was possible but yet everything was saying it wasn’t,” Mickelson said later.
“I hope that others find that inspiration. It might take a little extra work and a bit harder effort to maintain physically and maintain the skills but gosh, it is worth it in the end.
“I’m so appreciative to hold this Wannamaker Trophy,” said Mickelson, who ended the week on 6-under 282.
“I just love this game of golf and I love what I do and I love the challenge of competing against these great players. I don’t think I have had such an experience like that.
Final hurrah?
“It’s very possible that this is the last tournament I ever win. Like if I’m being realistic.
“But it’s also very possible that I may have had a little bit of a breakthrough in some of my focus and maybe I go on a little bit of a run, I don’t know.
“But the point is that there’s no reason why I or anybody else can’t do it at a later age. It just takes a little bit more work.”
At 115 in the world and a special invitee to the 103rd PGA Championship, Mickelson had come to Kiawah Island as a serious long shot.
Koepka paid tribute to Mickelson after their head-to-head duel.
“Just how bad I putted the last two days. It felt like tap-ins I was missing. Never felt comfortable, and you’re not going to win if you do that.
“The thing was, Phil played great. That whole stretch when we turned after 4 and 5 and played those holes, it’s into off the left for me and that’s quite difficult for a right-handed player.
“And it suited Phil right down to the ground, and I thought he played that entire stretch from about 6 to 13 so well. I’m happy for him. It’s pretty cool to see but a bit disappointed in myself.”
England trio Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Paul Casey were in a bunch that finished tied for fourth place on 2-under 286s, an indication of how hard the longest Major course on record had bitten the field.
Sunday’s win added a second PGA title to Mickelson’s collection of Majors that also includes the 2004, 2006 and 2010 Masters and the 2013 Open Championship.
He is now joint 12th on the all-time list of Major winners on six alongside Nick Faldo and Lee Trevino.
Also read: Conners leads field on difficult opening day at PGA Championship
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