Phil Mickelson is a legend of the golf world, a five-time major winner and Hall of Famer. His record is the envy of many players on the tour, with an Open Championship, two PGA Championships and three Masters to his name in a career going back almost 30 years. It was 1992 when the San Diego native first turned professional after graduating from ASU, but it took 12 years for him to lift his first major, despite some strong finishes. The 50-year-old is still pounding the fairways, desperate to add that one elusive title that would give him a Grand Slam: The US Open.
Mickelson and the Open have something of a love/hate relationship. As his career begins to wind down it is the only tournament still to evade his clutches, but he has finished as runner up on six occasions, firstly in 1999 and latterly in 2013. This year, at Torrey Pines, he will once again be looking to make history and become a Grand Slam champion.
Mickelson almost missed out on the tournament altogether. ESPN reports there was talk of him having to qualify in the 36-hole sectional qualifier on June 7 in Columbus, Ohio but instead he recently accepted a special exemption from the United States Golf Association on Friday to play in the 121st tournament bearing the US Open name. Torrey Pines is close to his hometown of San Diego and that certainly has had a bearing on his decision, as he revealed in a statement.
“Winning the U.S. Open has been a lifelong and elusive dream, and I’ve come close so many times,” Mickelson said in a statement. “You can’t win if you don’t play. I’m honored and appreciative of the USGA for the opportunity and look forward to playing in my hometown on a golf course I grew up on.”
Despite the obvious romance surrounding the story, it is not going to be easy for Mickelson to take home the prestigious trophy, and write himself into the history books. He is ranked as an outsider with Bwin, behind 20 other golfers. Dustin Johnson is the favorite, with Brooks Koepka and last year’s winner, Bryson DeChambeau. Odds mean little though, as Mickelson has already proven this year.
Mickelson is ranked 116th in the world heading into the tournament and has uniquely never been World Number One, having played second fiddle to Tiger Woods for much of his career. However, he did surprise the world in May when he lifted the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, becoming the oldest player in the history of the game to take a major title. Could that be the start of the US Open fairytale? After his win, he refused to rule it out.
“I just love this game of golf and I love what I do and I love the challenge of competing against such great players,” USA Today reports Mickelson as saying after defeating Koepka in an emotional final round. “This might be my last win, but I also might go on a bit of a run.
Whilst he made history at Kiawah Island, another win at Torrey Pines really would be a fairytale conclusion to a stellar career which is an inspiration to many golfers today, old and young.
Born in Fuenterrabia, Spain on Feb 5, 1966, Jose Maria Olazabal was the son of a farmer. Growing up, he started playing cross handed, and even though he eventually made the switch, it was difficult for him at first. It’s a good thing for us that he did. At 17 years old, with the unwavering support of his family, he turned pro, and as he stated in his induction speech “the rest is history”. Jose Maria had seven wins as an amateur, 21 European Tour wins, two victories on the Japanese Tour and six PGA Tour wins, including of course, two Masters Tournaments. His Ryder Cup record is just as good, with 18 wins, five halfs and eight losses. Many of his victories came while partnered with his mentor and great friend Seve Ballesteros. Before his pre-induction press conference, Arnold Palmer was coming off the stage and met Jose Maria to congratulate him. Mr. Palmer asked him “How do you feel today Jose?” Jose replied in his signature Spanish accent, “I’m shaking like a leaf!” His induction speech was delivered with the same passion and emotion with which he played golf. He told a story of a young boy who grew up to become a major champion, and finished his delivery with an emotional tribute to his parents, who were sitting in the front row, in Spanish.
Lanny Wadkins was the final inductee into the Hall of Fame for 2009, and he was presented for induction by his friend and CBS Sports golf anchor Jim Nantz. Nantz delivered an eloquent and vibrant speech, telling a few stories and engaging the crowd. He even pointed out the match Wadkins played with Arnold Palmer as a young man, beating Palmer that day. Of course, that drew a smile from the King, sitting in the front row. Nantz also listed Lanny’s accomplishments, which included 21 PGA Tour wins, including the 1977 PGA Championship. Lanny was a great amateur player in the 70s. He attended Wake Forest University on the Arnold Palmer scholarship, and played on the 1969 and 1971 Walker Cup teams and the World Amateur Team in 1970. Along with his PGA win in 1977, he had 7 other top three finishes in majors from 1982 to 1993. He also played on eight Ryder Cup teams which is a record he shares with Billy Casper and Ray Floyd. His overall record of 20-11-3 is one of the best of all time.