"Lefty" vs Father Time

Nobody, and I mean nobody could have predicted the events that would unfold this past weekend in Kiawah Island, SC. The 2nd major of the golf calendar year came with plenty of headlines. Jordan Speith, playing some great golf lately, was taking another crack at the career Grand Slam, Hideki Matsuyama was looking for his 2nd straight major victory after winning the 2021 Masters, and favorites like Dustin Johnson and Bryson Dechambeau were thought of as safe bets in the gambling world to raise another trophy. The monster, that is the known as the "Ocean Course"was too much for these young studs this go around. Against all odds (200-1 to be exact) a 50 year old was the one to raise the Wanamaker trophy. This 50 year old was none other than Phil Mickelson otherwise known as "Lefty."

Phil's resume no doubt makes him one of the greatest golfers to ever exist. With the win at the PGA championship he now sits at 45 career wins and six major titles. The 45 wins is good enough for 8th on the all time list. At his age it is a surprise to many that Phil even made the cut let alone win another major title. In my opinion one of the reasons the win is so special for golf fans is because lefty is loved by everybody. Simply said, if you don't like Phil Mickelson you just dont like people. Whether you are a young fan just getting into the game or an old timer who's played in every state in the country you couldn't help but smile when Phil was walking up to the 18th green. In the common era I can't think of a person who could create that much hysteria winning a golf tournament, other than the great Tiger Woods of course.

The Final Round

After the completion of the 3rd round on Saturday, Phil was already the oldest player ever to hold the 54 hole lead at the PGA championship and the oldest 54 hold leader in any major since Tom Watson at the 2009 open championship. Phil found himself one stroke ahead of young star Brooks Koepka, whom at the age of 31 already has 4 major titles to his credit. It's funny because the 2009 Open had a similiar scenario to this one. The entire crowd was rooting for Tom Watson that day, unfortunately he fell in a playoff to Stewart Cink. Much to Brook's dismay, Phil had the entire crowd on his side and wasn't going to let the young guy win this time. Although, like I always say, theres never a major Sunday without some drama. At the very first hole we saw one of a few two stroke swings as the lefty bogeyed while Brooks rolled in a birdie to give him the one stroke lead. I had my doubts from the get go and that first hole blunder led me to belive it was Brook's tourney to lose. However Phil bounced right back with a birdie at the par 5 2nd to take the lead after Brooks suffered the dreaded double bogey. The long hitter in Koepka would struggle on the par 5's all day, very uncharacteristically. The most electric moment of the day was when Phil did what he does best. The short game. He holed out from the bunker giving him a birdie two on the par 3 5th hole. He is simply a master from 50 yards and in. At the turn Mickelson was even par for the day and two shots clear of Koepka and South African Louis Oosthuizen.

Phil, who's putter had let him down over the last few years was on fire, holing-out a 12 foot putt to extend his lead at hole 10. Koepka was seemingly falling out of the competition after holes 10-11 as he bogeyed both and found himself 4 strokes back. Oosthuizen had a slight glimmer of hope until he hit his 2nd shot into the water at 13. Louis, whom has yet to win tournament on American Soil was done. Sorry Louis. Phil did see his lead cut in half but on hole 16 he hit a 366 yard mammoth drive. The longest of any player on that whole for the entire tournament. Again, the man is 50. I am happy when my drives go 250 and that is why I am not on tour. He birdied that hole to set himself up for a non-pressure situation on 18. All hell broke loose in the gallery as security had no control over the situation. Don't get it twisted though folks, this was priceless. I have not seen a crowd get this rowdy for the winning player since Tiger's win at the 2018 Tour Championship. It was an unbelievable sight to see as Phil emerged from the crowd with a thumbs up (one of many that day as he may have set the world record.) Phil beat Father time yesterday and he became the oldest major champion in golf history. What a special day for a special golfer and even better person. Phil will look to capture that coveted U.S open title, a tournament in which he has finished runner up six times. He'll turn 51 a day before the 1st round. The battle is not over yet for Lefty vs. Father time. Will he make history again? This go around is for the career grand slam.