He is the golfer who stopped Phil Mickelson in his tracks to win his first PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow in 2013 but hasn’t had a top-10 finish since

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Phil Mickelson is a legendary figure in the game of golf, and he has won almost everything there is to win during his glittering career thus far.

However, one young man got the better of him at Quail Hollow 12 years ago.

2013 was a memorable year on the PGA Tour for the enigmatic Mickelson. He won twice, including his incredible Open Championship victory at Muirfield.

The now 54-year-old just missed out on the US Open trophy as well, after a second placed finish to Justin Rose.

Mickelson is a golfer like no other, and he has thrilled galleries all over the world over the past three decades.

The Californian is now a member of the LIV Golf League, and some say that he tarnished his reputation by joining the Saudi-backed outfit.

However, Mickelson believes that LIV have a better product on offer than the PGA Tour. Whether he’s right in that regard is up for debate.

However, one thing that definitely isn’t in question is lefty’s talent He was a winning machine during his time on the PGA Tour, but he could so easily have had one more win to his name, had things worked out differently 12 years ago.

Derek Ernst stopped Phil Mickelson to win his first PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow in 2013

Mickelson has won six major championships and 45 PGA Tour titles throughout his career.

However, Ernst is the reason why he didn’t end up 46 wins to his name.

With The PGA Championship set to return to North Carolina this year, Quail Hollow is in the news once again.

And 12 years ago Mickelson was closing in on what would have been his second win of the season at Quail Hollow.

However, Ernst didn’t let it happen, beating Mickelson by a single shot.

Ernst was only 22 at the time, and after his spectacular victory, it seemed like he had the golfing world at his feet.

However, it didn’t quite pan out that way in the end for Californian tour pro.

He has experienced a truly horrendous run of golf ever since then.

Ernst has unbelievable PGA Tour record but not in a good way

His win at what was then known as The Wells Fargo Championship remains his only PGA tour title.

Incredibly though, Ernst hasn’t even had a top-10 finish since that glorious day in North Carolina in May 2013.

What a remarkable fall from grace that has been for the now 34-year-old.

He has actually only played 38 PGA Tour events over the past nine years, with just one top-25 finish to his name.

Ernst may have beaten Mickelson at Quail Hollow in 2013, but the 54-year-old has quite obviously had the last laugh when it comes to their respective careers in the game.