The fairways of Oakmont Country Club, carved with history and heartbreak, are set to host Phil Mickelson this week for what is likely his final U.S. Open appearance.
At 54, the six-time major champion, colloquially known as “Lefty,” arrives in Pennsylvania not as a ceremonial figure but as a longshot contender riding a wave of resurgent form unseen in several years. With a record six runner-up finishes in this championship and the career Grand Slam tantalizingly out of reach, Mickelson’s 34th U.S. Open start is poised to be a poignant, thrilling chapter in one of golf’s most storied careers.
Mickelson’s journey to Oakmont has been anything but ordinary. His 2021 PGA Championship victory at age 50, making him the oldest major champion in history, granted him a five-year exemption into the U.S. Open, which expires this year. Without it, the path to future U.S. Opens would require grueling 36-hole qualifying or a rare special exemption from the USGA — neither of which Mickelson seems eager to pursue.
“There’s a high likelihood that it will be [my last], but I haven’t really thought about it too much,” he said at a press conference before LIV Golf Virginia, his voice carrying the weight of a man aware that time is no longer an ally.
Yet, if this is to be Mickelson’s swan song at the U.S. Open, he’s entering with a swagger reminiscent of his prime. His T4 finish at LIV Golf Virginia, where he carded a final-round 65, was punctuated by a viral 120-degree backward chip-in for birdie on the 17th — a shot so audacious it drew gasps and comparisons to his “vintage Phil” days.
Bryson DeChambeau, playing alongside Mickelson on Sunday, called it “one of the craziest shots I’ve ever seen,” while fans on social media buzzed about his renewed spark, pointing to the HyFlyers’ captain’s three top-6 finishes in his last six LIV Golf starts (3rd-Hong Kong, 6th-Miami, T4-Virginia).
This resurgence is no accident. Mickelson, who admitted to “holding back” his HyFlyers team in recent seasons, spent the offseason sharpening his game.
“This year I’ve played better. I had a great offseason,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to competing at a high level. At Virginia’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, he noted the course’s similarities to Oakmont — fast greens rolling at 14-15 on the Stimpmeter, thick rough, and demanding short-game challenges — making it an ideal tune-up.
“It couldn’t be a better spot to get ready,” he declared.
Oakmont, hosting its record 10th U.S. Open, is a fitting stage for Mickelson’s potential farewell. The course’s ruthless bunkers, lightning-fast greens, and penal rough have humbled the game’s greats, including Mickelson, who becomes only the third player in history to compete in four or more U.S. Opens at the venue, joining legends Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan. His past performances here are less than stellar (1994-T47, 2007-MC, 2016-MC) but Mickelson’s history suggests he thrives when the odds are stacked against him.
The U.S. Open has been Mickelson’s white whale, a major tournament that has delivered both brilliance and agony. His six runner-up finishes (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013) are a record, each a story of near-triumph. In 1999 at Pinehurst, he fell to Payne Stewart’s clutch 15-footer. In 2006 at Winged Foot, a final-hole double bogey cost him the title, prompting his infamous lament: “I am such an idiot.” In 2013 at Merion, he finished second again, calling it “heartbreaking.” These close calls have defined his U.S. Open legacy, yet they’ve also fueled his relentless pursuit of the one major missing from his resume.
Mickelson’s quest for the career Grand Slam — achieved by only six golfers, most recently Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Masters — adds an extra layer of intrigue. His three Masters titles (2004, 2006, 2010), two PGA Championships (2005, 2021), and 2013 Open Championship showcase a versatility few can match. A U.S. Open victory would place him alongside Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Hogan, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, and McIlroy in golf’s pantheon. But at 54, with recent U.S. Open struggles (missing the cut in four of his last five starts), the window is narrowing.
Still, Mickelson’s peers believe he’s not done yet. DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion, has vocally supported Mickelson’s chances, stirring buzz on social media about Lefty’s potential to defy Father Time once more. Joaquin Niemann, fresh off his LIV Virginia win, praised Mickelson’s short-game wizardry, saying, “He’s still got that magic around the greens.”
The galleries at Oakmont, once roaring for Mickelson’s swashbuckling style, are expected to rally behind him, even if his LIV Golf move has dimmed his star among the media.
Off the course, Mickelson’s legacy is complex. His 2022 jump to LIV Golf, a decision that fractured his relationship with golf’s establishment, particularly the media, cast a shadow over his 2023 Masters runner-up finish, a performance that deserved more celebration. His candid, sometimes controversial remarks — dismissing the USGA’s golf ball rollback or criticizing past U.S. Open setups — have made him a polarizing figure in the media. Yet, his charisma, thumbs-up gestures, and bold playing style remain endearing to golf fans. As he approaches 55, Mickelson is reflective, hinting at stepping away from LIV if he can’t contribute to his team. “I want to be realistic,” he said, a rare admission of mortality from a man who once seemed ageless.
At Oakmont, Mickelson faces a field stacked with prime-age stars like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy, alongside LIV standouts like DeChambeau, Niemann and Jon Rahm. The course’s demands — accuracy off the tee, where Mickelson has historically struggled, and a deft short game, where he excels — will test every facet of his game. But if his recent form holds, particularly his rediscovered touch around the greens, he could defy the +15,000 odds and make one final run.
As Mickelson walks Oakmont’s hallowed fairways, the weight of history will be profound. Every flop shot, every daring driver off the tee, every thumbs-up to the crowd could be his last in America’s national golf championship. Whether he finally hoists the U.S. Open trophy or adds another chapter to his sentimental saga, Mickelson’s presence is a reminder of golf’s lasting appeal: a game where prodigies become legends, and legends refuse to fade quietly. For Phil, the kid from San Diego, who first wowed the USGA with a 1990 U.S. Amateur title, this is more than a tournament, it’s a story that doesn’t need a perfect ending to be unforgettable.
