Phil Mickelson: 2021 FedEx Cup Contender or Pretender?

It may be hard to believe, but Phil Mickelson has never won the FedEx Cup. At 50 years of age, is it possible he could make a run this year?

With the 2021 portion of the PGA Tour schedule now underway, we at Pro Golf Now will be taking a look at players outside of the current top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings and whether they are contenders or pretenders for the 2021 FedEx Cup. Our latest subject is the current No. 187, Phil Mickelson.

Best career FedEx Cup finish: Since the inception of the FedEx Cup, Mickelson has been a regular visitor to East Lake for the Tour Championship. He has made it there nine times in the 14-year history of the cup. Surprisingly, Mickelson has never won the FedEx Cup (thank you, Tiger Woods). Mickelson came close twice. In the first year of the cup, he finished third. Then in 2009, he had hist best finish, a second-place showing when he won the Tour Championship but fell short of Woods in the overall standings.

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So far this season: The 2020-21 season has not been great for Mickelson, but it hasn’t been awful. He started his season at the Safeway Open, where he shot 71 on Thursday and 67 on Friday to make the cut. He carded a 70 on Saturday and another 70 on Sunday to finish 10-under and tied for 44th place.

At the U.S. Open, his long-time nemesis, Mickelson was never really in the hunt to even make the cut. He shot a 79 on Thursday and followed that with a 74 on Friday. He did not make the weekend.

After more than a month away from the PGA Tour, Mickelson returned at the Zozo Championship. He had a 72 on Thursday and a 74 on Friday that included a stretch where he went 2-9-3-2. He came back with a nice 67 on Saturday, but followed that with a 78 on Sunday. He finished 76th out of 78 players in the field.

Mickelson next played at the Houston Open, hoping to use the event as a tune-up for the Masters.

However, it was a short stay in Houston. Mickelson shot 76 on Thursday and 73 on Friday to miss the cut.

His final start of 2020 came at the site of his greatest triumphs, Augusta National and the Masters. Mickelson opened with a 69 on Thursday and followed that with a 70 on Friday. He was just four shots back heading to the weekend.

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However, he shot a 79 on Saturday, tying his worst-ever round at the Masters, to fall completely off the pace. His 73 on Sunday allowed him to finish in a tie for 55th overall.

The verdict: At 50 years old, Mickelson will likely start playing more events on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. He is more of a contender for the Charles Schwab Cup than the FedEx Cup. Consider him a pretender.

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