Phil Mickelson goes out with a whimper, misses cut at potentially last US Open

Boston Globe

2 days ago

A birdie would have let Mickelson stick around for the weekend at his 34th — and perhaps last — trip to the national championship. Wearing a white hat featuring the logo of his LIV Golf team, the HyFlyers GC, Mickelson stood over the line trying to get the right read.
When the putt slid a foot left of the hole to keep Mickelson one outside the cut at plus-8, a small groan arose from those who stuck around. There was a shout or two of 'We love you Phil!' Along the railing, a man leaned toward a friend and said, 'His exemption is done. No more U.S. Open for you, Phil.'
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Maybe, maybe not.
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The five-year exemption into the tournament that Mickelson received when he
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Mickelson sure isn't saying. He politely declined to talk to reporters after emerging from the scoring area, disappearing into the clubhouse and an uncertain future at a tournament where he's been a runner-up six times.
There are a number of ways for Mickelson to make it to Shinnecock next June. The USGA could offer him an exemption, as it did at Torrey Pines in 2020, though that doesn't appear to be USGA chief championship officer John Bodenhamer's first choice.
'I think the way that we would also think of Phil is we hope he earns his way in, and I think he'd tell you the same thing,' Bodenhamer said Wednesday. 'That's what he did last time. We gave him one and then he went out and won the PGA Championship. So wouldn't put it past him.'
Phil Mickelson - OUT
Cameron Smith - OUT
Davis Thompson - OUT
Cam Davis - IN
Brian Harman - IN
Late drama on the cut line at Oakmont.
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf)
Mickelson became the oldest major champion ever when he triumphed at Kiawah in 2021 at age 50. A lot has happened since then. Both on the course and off it.
The man known universally as 'Lefty' played a major role in LIV Golf's rise, a move that has taken a bit of the shine off of his popularity back home.
And while Mickelson's game can still show flashes — he really did
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Mickelson appeared to be in solid position to play the weekend when he stood on the 15th tee. He was even on the day and 4 over for the tournament, well inside the cut line. A tee shot into the ankle deep rough at the 489-yard par 4 led to double bogey.
He still seemed to be OK when he got to 17, a short uphill par 4. His tee shot sailed into the rough above a greenside bunker. There would be no magic this time. His attempted flop splashed into the sand instead. He blasted out to 25 feet and three-putted for another double bogey.
That put him in a position he's been familiar with for a long time: heading to 18 at the US Open needing to make a birdie of consequence. It didn't happen. And as he disappeared into the clubhouse, along with it came the realization that at this point, it likely never will.