PHIL THE THRILL: Mickelson earned his 42nd career PGA TOUR victory at the age of 43 years, 1 month and 5 days in his 480th TOUR event (462nd as a professional). He moves to ninth on the all time PGA TOUR win list. He is the first player to win the European Tour’s Scottish Open and then the Open Championship the following week. He is also the third-consecutive champion in his 40s at the Open Championship, joining 42-year olds Darren Clarke (2011) and Ernie Els (2012). He is one of three players in their 40s to win on TOUR in 2013 (Mickelson-twice, Brian Gay, Ken Duke). Lefty picked up his fifth Major Championship (2004, 2006 & 2010 Masters, 2005 PGA Championship and 2013 Open Championship) and joins a select list of players with at least five Major Championship victories: 18 (Jack Nicklaus), 14 (Tiger Woods), 11 (Walter Hagen), 9 (Ben Hogan, Gary Player), 8 (Tom Watson), 7 (Harry Vardon, Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer), 6 (Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo), 5 (James Braid, James H. Taylor, Byron Nelson, Peter Thomson, Seve Ballesteros, Mickelson). He becomes the second-consecutive Open Champion (Ernie Els/2012) to birdie the final hole in the final round. Over the last 21 years, Stewart Cink in 2009 is the only other champion who managed the feat. Only four players have won the Open Championship with a lower final-round than Mickelson (66): Greg Norman (64/1993), Tom Watson (65/1977), Seve Ballesteros (65/1988) and Justin Leonard (65/1997).
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 16:17:35 +0000
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