DETERMINED: Imagine Now Phil Wins the US Open and the Career Grand Slam?

Phil Mickelson is back in tournament action for the first time since the end of January where he missed the cut. He just finished his first round in the LIV Golf London finishing at -1 in 7th place, just 4 shots off the lead with 2 more rounds two play.

A solid performance for him after not playing in a professional tournament for several months. Mickelson came firing today off the first tee hitting a bomb. The 51-year-old seems to be swinging just like he was a short time ago. But can he contend in the U.S. Open?

Round 1 Highlights | LIV Golf Invitational London

Catch all the highlights from the opening day of LIV Golf’s inaugural Invitational in London. Watch LIV Golf Invitational London, June 9 -11, streaming this week live on our YouTube channel. Learn more about LIV Golf: https://www.livgolf.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LIVGolfInv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LIVGolfInv

Phil just last year did the unthinkable of winning the PGA Championship at 50 years old just a few weeks short of turning 51. Could Phil tap into some of that same magic from just a year ago when he raised the Wanamaker trophy?

The circumstances are different this time as Phil played 10 tournaments in 2021 before he eventually won the PGA Championship. This time around Phil only will have one tournament under his belt since late January to get into that same rhythm of tournament play. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Phil hasn’t had a top 10 finish in the 2013 U.S. Open since he finished T-2, finishing two shots off the lead to eventual winner Justin Rose. This may be the only major that “Lefty” might be striving for; it is the major he needs to complete the career grand slam. He would join a highly exclusive list of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan.

2013 U.S. Open- Final Round- Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson talks to the media after the final round of the 2013 U.S. Open, held at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. For daily updates from the United States Golf Association, visit us at www.usga.org, on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/USGA; www.Twitter.com/usopengolf) and on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/USGA; www.Facebook.com/USOPEN).

Phil Mickelson’s window is closing as he still has till 2026 to win the U.S. Open due to his exemption from winning the PGA Championship in 2021. It will be interesting to see if the USGA will honor that exemption for the 2023 and the following years, due to Phil Mickelson playing on the LIV Tour.

Time will tell the tale of what the respective tours will do, but it doesn’t appear there will be any compromise soon. 

Tour suspends the LIV guys—and, crucially, makes clear that they won’t be able to play PGA Tour events on sponsor’s invites. That’s a significant distinction. pic.twitter.com/vN1HaW2kV7

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) June 9, 2022

Cover Image Via Twitter