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Did Phil Mickelson just hint that Oakmont could be his last U.S. Open?
It’s the championship that one of golf’s great major winners needs to complete the career Grand Slam. Yet Phil Mickelson, approaching age 55, is cognizant that the sun has almost set on his U.S. Open career.
Lefty is set to tee it up at Oakmont Country Club this week, the fifth and final year of his exemption into the USGA’s marquee event from his age-defying PGA Championship win in 2021. That was Mickelson’s sixth major victory, and made him the oldest major winner at 50, after claiming three Masters titles (2004, 2006 and 2010) as well as the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol. When Mickelson won the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield, that put him a U.S. Open away joining the exclusive circle of men who have won all four.
Mickelson has famously finished second a record six times at the U.S. Open, first to Payne Stewart at Pinehurst in 1999, and then in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2013.
Speaking ahead of LIV Golf Virginia last week, Mickelson was asked about the future beyond Oakmont.
Reporter: Phil, I’m just curious about your thoughts on Oakmont potentially being your last U.S. Open and the possible end of your life-long quest to win our national Open.
“I haven’t thought about it too much,” Mickelson said. “There’s a high likelihood that it will be, but I haven’t really thought about it too much.”
Without pausing for this interesting admission, Mickelson continued by saying that the setup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club would be good preparation for Oakmont.
“We have greens that are rolling 14 to 15 on the Stimpmeter just like we will next week,” Mickelson said. “We have contours, undulations just like we will next week. I think it’s a great way to prepare for [the U.S. Open] without minimising the effects of this week.”
Of course, there are ways for Mickelson to qualify for next year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and beyond. The reporter asked Mickelson the appropriate follow up, about whether the Californian would enter 36-hole final qualifying, to which Mickelson answered, “I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far [ahead].”
There is also the option of the USGA extending Mickelson a special exemption into the championship, a move the association did in 2021 when the U.S. Open was returning to Torrey Pines, a sentimental spot for San Diego native. Mickelson accepted that invitation to extend his U.S. Open appearances to 30 at the time, but then was able to “return” it after playing his way into the field with his PGA win at Kiawah.
Earlier in the interview, Mickelson was asked about his competitive plan over the next five years. He didn’t wade into specifics, only referencing that members of the LIV team he captains, the HyFlyers, which features Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale and Andy Ogletree, were a source of energy in his mid-50s.
“As far as my playing schedule, I don’t know the answer to that. I think that my desire and energy and excitement to play, a lot of it has to do with the fact that I’m on this team and get to spend time with these guys,” he said.
“I don’t have a great answer for you. I’m also going to be 55 in a couple weeks, so I want to be realistic there, too. I want this team to succeed. 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. This year I’ve played better.”
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