Golf-Fifty and fabulous: Mickelson defies age to win PGA Championship
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[May 24, 2021]
By Andrew Both
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (Reuters) -Phil
Mickelson blocked out the distractions and kept his mind quiet in
front of a raucous gallery to win the PGA Championship by two
strokes on Sunday and become golf's oldest major winner at the age
of 50.
Mickelson battled through strong winds, shrugged off a few poor
shots and kept calm amid suffocating pressure to record a
one-over-par 73 at the Ocean Course, holding his nerve with Brooks
Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen breathing down his neck.
In collecting the sixth major of his career, and first since the
2013 British Open, Mickelson surpassed Julius Boros as the oldest
major winner. Boros was 48 when he won the 1968 PGA Championship.
"This is just an incredible feeling because I just believed that it
was possible but yet everything was saying it wasn't," said
Mickelson, who is now the only player to have claimed PGA Tour
victories 30 years apart.
"And I hope that others find that inspiration. It might take a
little extra work, a little bit harder effort to maintain physically
or maintain the skills but, gosh, is it worth it."
When Mickelson's approach shot safely found the green at the final
hole a wild scene ensued as fans raced to follow one of the game's
all-time greats up the fairway and completely enveloped him in a
frenzied swarm.
Mickelson, who also won the tournament in 2005, later acknowledged
he had been a little unnerved by the experience, while fellow
competitor Brooks Koepka said he was "dinged" by spectators in the
crush.
Security officials had to create a narrow path for Mickelson to
navigate his way to the green, where he two-putted from 16 feet to
seal the win.
'QUIET THINGS DOWN'
Mickelson, who will get the chance to complete the career Grand Slam
of all four modern majors at the U.S. Open next month, said his
triumph had yet to sink in.
"It's been an incredible day, and I've not let myself kind of think
about the results until now, now that it's over," Mickelson said
after finishing at six-under 282.
"I've tried to stay more in the present and at the shot at hand and
not jump ahead and race. I've tried to shut my mind to a lot of
stuff going around. I wasn't watching TV. I wasn't getting on my
phone. I was just trying to quiet things down."
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Phil Mickelson poses for a portrait with
the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf
tournament. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mickelson led by five shots with six
holes to play, though the advantage was cut to two after bogeys at
the 13th and 14th and a birdie at the 16th by Oosthuizen, who was
playing in the penultimate pairing.
With victory in sight, an undeterred Mickelson showed great resolve
and even flashed a thumbs-up to the crowd as he went on to reclaim a
three-shot cushion with a birdie at the 16th before a bogey-par
finish.
Mickelson was under no illusions that at this point in his career,
when most players are long since done and dusted at the top level,
wins are incredibly difficult to come by.
"It's very possible that this is the last tournament I ever win, if
I'm being realistic," he said.
"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."
Mickelson's great rival Tiger Woods, who is home recovering from
serious leg injuries suffered in a February car crash, was quick to
congratulate him.
"Truly inspirational to see @PhilMickelson do it again at 50 years
of age. Congrats!!!!!!!," the 15-times major champion tweeted.
Oosthuizen (73) and Koepka (74) finished in a share of second place
while European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington (69), Ireland's
Shane Lowry (69), Englishman Paul Casey (71) and Harry Higgs (70)
were a further two shots back in fourth place.
(Reporting by Andrew Both; Writing by Frank Pingue in Toronto;
Editing by Toby Davis, Ken Ferris, Richard Pullin, Peter Rutherford)
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