Phil Mickelson: A history of close calls at the U.S. Open
2006: Heartbreak at Winged Foot
Any of Lefty’s other U.S. Open close calls could be placed on the outstanding play of another, but this one lies firmly on his shoulders. Indeed, this might be the moment when the importance of the U.S. Open to Mickelson’s legacy truly came into focus.
11 years ago, Mickelson was on top of the golf world. He had won the 2005 PGA Championship and the 2006 Masters, and went to Winged Foot with an opportunity to join Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan as the only players in history to win three straight majors. After 71 holes, he was poised to do just that.
Mickelson entered the weekend in a tie for seventh, four strokes behind 36-hole leader Steve Stricker. On Moving Day, he was the only player in the top ten under par, a one-under 69 sending him into the last pairing on Sunday with Kenneth Ferrie.
Phil got off to a tough start that Sunday, making the turn at +4 and falling one shot behind Colin Montgomerie and Geoff Ogilvy. A pair of birdies on the second nine was offset by matching bogeys, but Mickelson watched as challengers fell off the pace. Neither Montgomerie or Jim Furyk put pressure on in front, and as Mickelson approached the 18th tee, he needed just par to hold off Ogilvy for the win.
Mickelson never changed his style, leaving everything on the course
Despite struggles on the previous two holes, Mickelson stayed aggressive, electing to hit driver on the 450-yard par-4. The tee shot went well left of the fairway, bouncing off a hospitality tent and coming to rest in spectator-trampled grass. His escape attempt failed, as he bounced the ball off a tree, barely advancing it. When Mickelson finally got out, his approach plugged in a greenside bunker.
A wizard with the short game, Mickelson still had a chance to force an 18-hole Monday playoff. His bunker shot went well past the hole and off the green, and his chip-in attempt, one last reach for hope, never came close.
Mickelson took his time before leaving the scorers’ room to address the media, and gave his most honest thoughts on what had happened on the closing hole. “I still am in shock that I did that,” he said. “I just can’t believe that I did that. It really stings.”
He would get other chances, but this one thrust his desire for the U.S. Open championship into a spotlight it never had before.