Phil Mickelson is brutally honest as he makes US Open retirement admission
Phil Mickelson is running out of time to win the US Open and complete the career Grand Slam, with the 54-year-old admitting that this could be his final appearance at the major
Phil Mickelson could be taking part in his last US Open this year, having acknowledged that this might be his final trip to Oakmont, with his exemption nearing its end. The 54-year-old made history in 2021 by becoming the oldest golfer to capture a major title when he won the PGA Championship.
However, his form has dipped since leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in 2022. Determined to secure a US Open title and complete a career grand slam, Mickelson knows the clock is ticking.
The seasoned pro has claimed three victories at the Masters, holds two PGA Championship titles, and lifted The Open Championship trophy in 2013. But after suggesting uncertainty about his long-term involvement with LIV, Mickelson also acknowledged that this year's US Open may mark his swansong at the event.
The 125th US Open begins on June 12, and in the lead-up to the season's third major, the American shared some thoughts about what lies ahead. "I haven't thought about it too much," he said, via Mirror US. "There's a high likelihood that it will be, but I haven't really thought about it too much."
Mickelson has long pursued a US Open title, the one missing piece in his otherwise complete major resume. Capturing it would make him the seventh man in history to claim all four majors. Earlier this year, Rory McIlroy became the sixth to achieve that feat by winning the Masters.
Despite numerous strong performances, the US Open has repeatedly eluded Mickelson - he's finished runner-up an incredible six times. This event remains the pinnacle of his ambitions, but with his exemption expiring after this tournament, qualifying in the future may be far more difficult.
In 2021, Mickelson said: "Winning the US Open has been a lifelong and elusive dream, and I've come close so many times. You can't win if you don't play."
In 2022, he made a bold declaration about his career prospects: "If I win the US Open, I will retire," Mickelson told Golf Digest. "That would be my last tournament. I will have achieved the career Grand Slam and I won't have anything more to prove."
Unfortunately, his chances may be fading. As a LIV participant, Mickelson can no longer collect Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, a key route to qualifying for majors.
One of the primary paths to entry is being in the top 60 of the OWGR, but with no ranking points from LIV events, his position continues to drop. His 2021 PGA Championship win earned him a five-year exemption, but another major victory would be required to extend that leeway.
Though Mickelson's spot in the US Open remains in question, he has also alluded to a broader end to his competitive career. His deal with LIV ends this year, and according to biographer Alan Shipnuck, his next move might transition him into a leadership role, possibly off the course.
The HyFlyers captain addressed his dip in performance before the 2025 season began, saying: "I see glimpses and my teammates see glimpses of me being where I expect to be able to compete at this level. But I'm also realistic with myself, and if I'm not able to I'll step aside and let somebody come on in, and take the HyFlyers to new levels.
"I'm in every major on the regular tour next year, and I'll be in three of the four majors for the next six, seven years. I would love to compete and give myself a chance to win in those. I also want to build this out and create a culture that is sustainable and that people strive to be a part of.
"How I do that, whether it's internally as a player and so forth, or whether it's strictly from the outside, I'm going to be intricately involved with the HyFlyers going forward probably the rest of my life, and then my playing career I'll be realistic where I'm at, too."
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