Lefty Ready for Final US Open amid Catching Fire at LIV Golf Virginia

Newsweek

5 hours ago

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Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has played in 33 editions of the US Open, a tournament he has never won despite finishing second six times. That drought could end next week at Oakmont, however, as a victory for Mickelson is not out of the question, especially now.
Everything indicates that "Lefty" is peaking at the right moment. During Sunday's final round at LIV Golf Virginia, Mickelson reminded everyone of his prowess with a wedge in his hand.
Lefty holed out on an incredibly difficult chip to remain in contention for the win.
He ultimately tied for fourth at LIV Golf Virginia. This is the second-best result of his career at LIV Golf, coming less than a week before the third major of the season begins.
Mickelson was among the tournament leaders from the start and was tied for first for some of the final round. Despite posting an excellent 6-under on Sunday, Mickelson was overtaken by Joaquin Niemann, who won the event, as well as by Graeme McDowell and Anirban Lahiri, who tied for second.
Although he is still seeking his first LIV Golf win, Mickelson performed well on a challenging course like the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville. The six-time major champion posted scores of 4-under and 3-under during the first two rounds, finishing with a 54-hole score of 13-under.
Phil Mickelson of HyFlyers GC tees off at the 17th hole on day two of LIV Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 07, 2025 in Gainesville, Virginia.
Phil Mickelson of HyFlyers GC tees off at the 17th hole on day two of LIV Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on June 07, 2025 in Gainesville, Virginia.
Getty Images/Alex Goodlett
This is Mickelson's third top-10 finish of the season, and he is enjoying his best streak since joining LIV Golf. 2025 has been the year in which he has earned the most top-10 finishes since joining the league, as well as the best finish of his career: third place in Hong Kong.
There's no doubt that both his season results and his performance in Virginia point to an enviable current form. His confidence will surely be boosted when looking for a strong result at Oakmont next week.
This issue is of the utmost importance, not only for Mickelson, but also for all golf enthusiasts.
The US Open is the only title missing for "Lefty" to achieve the highly coveted Career Grand Slam, a feat accomplished by only six other players in the history of the sport.
As if it wasn't enough, Mickelson's exemption from playing in the US Open expires in 2025, so the upcoming edition could be his last. He recently addressed the topic and acknowledged this may be his final appearance at the US Open.
"There's a high likelihood that it will be [my last], but I haven't really thought about it too much," Mickleson said.
However, the 54-year-old already holds the record for being the oldest major champion after winning the 2021 PGA Championship at age 51.
We'll see if he can break his own mark.
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