Phil Mickelson shocked the golfing world when he won the 2021 PGA Championship at the age of 50.
Mickelson became the oldest major championship winner ever, claiming the honor thanks to his two-stroke win at Kiawah Island.
The American veteran, now playing on LIV Golf, clinched his sixth major championship win at the 2021 PGA Championship, and his first since 2013.
And unsurprisingly he was left thrilled in the immediate aftermath, where his age was brought into the discussion.
How will history reflect on Phil Mickelson?
Golf's most polarising player?
Phil Mickelson went against his word with LIV Golf move after 2021 PGA Championship win
It was put to Mickelson in his winning press conference: “Over the last several years, as the age crept up, you never really let that get in the way. You always downplayed it, actually tried to dismiss it, probably. How did you do that? I mean, certainly, you know the history that it doesn’t work out as much at this point. What did you do?”
He replied: “Worked harder, is the deal. I just had to work harder physically to be able to practice as long as I wanted to and I’ve had to work a lot harder to be able to maintain focus throughout a round. That’s been the biggest challenge of late.
“My desire to play is the same. I’ve never been driven by exterior things. I’ve always been intrinsically motivated because I love to compete, I love playing the game.
“I love having opportunities to play against the best at the highest level. That’s what drives me, and I think that that’s what is… the belief that I could still do it inspired me to work harder. I just didn’t see why it couldn’t be done. It just took a little bit more effort.”
While it was a hugely impressive and admirable display, his comments don’t exactly ring true four years later.
Put simply, Mickelson is neither playing against the best players in the world any more, nor is he playing at the highest level.
Golf fans don’t always see eye-to-eye, but they should be able to agree that the scenario Mickelson described back then is currently at play on the PGA Tour, not LIV Golf.
It’s also true of the major championships, but they only arrive four times a year, with the American failing to deliver on that stage in 2025.
He took on all four majors, missing the cut at The Masters, the PGA Championship and the US Open, before finishing T56 at The Open Championship.
LIV Golf has fallen dramatically since Phil Mickelson joined
It has definitely turned out to be a hypocritical statement more than anything from Mickelson, who joined LIV Golf shortly after in 2022.
The move represented arguably the most high-profile switch from the PGA Tour, with the American icon remaining one of its most high-profile players.
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The early stages of LIV Golf were certainly exciting for the breakaway tour, when Mickelson was joined by the likes of fellow stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in making the controversial switch.
Now, however, its latest recruits certainly don’t carry the same prestige, with Laurie Canter and Victor Perez among those who have recently joined.
Moreover, Mickelson could leave LIV Golf soon, which would be a blow for all parties concerned, and subsequently likely a boost for the PGA Tour.
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