Winning Majors eight seasons apart is also a rare feat

Unlike winning a Major at age 50, winning two of them eight seasons apart – as Phil Mickelson also did Sunday at Kiawah Island – isn’t literally unprecedented in the majors.

Still, Mickelson is only the 11th player in all of golf history to overcome that much of a time lapse between Major titles…and only the third to do so since World War II.

More from Pro Golf Now

• Golf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning deal
• Fantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player Selections
• Brutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024
• Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at Concession
• Fantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament

Prior to picking up his seventh Major and second PGA Championship by two strokes over Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen, Mickelson’s last Major title came back in 2013. He won the British Open that year by three strokes over Henrik Stenson.

He also won Majors in 2004 (Masters), 2005 (PGA), 2006 (Masters) and 2010 (Masters).

With the notable exceptions of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, most of golf’s multiple Major winners piled up their titles within a relatively tight time span. Ben Hogan won his nine Majors within a eight-year period, 1946-1953. Tom Watson won eight in eight seasons, Bobby Jones won seven in eight years, and Arnold Palmer won seven in seven years.

Mickelson’s 17-year spread between first (2004) and most recent Major wins is even more impressive: it equals the seventh longest spread in Major championship history. The only stretches between first and  last Major titles as long or longer were:

• Jack Nicklaus, 24 years (1962-1986)
• Tiger Woods, 22 years (1997-2019)
• John H. Taylor, 19 years (1894-1913)
• Gary Player, 19 years (1959-1978)
• Harry Vardon, 18 years (1896-1914)
• Ernie Els, 18 years (1994-2012)
• Ray Floyd, 17 years (1969-1986)

Coming back following a drought of eight seasons or more is almost as rare, especially once the championship game emerged from its formative era. Of the 10 other players who survived a gap of eight or more seasons to win another Major, five did so prior to or just following World War I. Prior to Mickelson, only three Americans had done it.

Here’s that list:

• Willie Park, 1866 British Open to 1875 British Open
• Bob Martin, 1876 British Open to 1885 British Open
• John H. Taylor, 1900 British Open to 1909 British Open
• Harry Vardon, 1903 British Open to 1911 British Open
• Ted Ray, 1912 British Open to 1920 U.S. Open
• Gene Sarazen, 1923 PGA to 1932 U.S. Open
• Henry Cotton, 1937 British Open to 1948 British Open
• Hale Irwin, 1979 U.S. Open to 1990 U.S. Open
• Ernie Els, 2002 British Open to 2012 British Open
• Tiger Woods, 2008 U.S. Open to 2019 Masters

Mickelson’s next target is obvious: completing his career grand slam by winning the U.S. Open next month at Torrey Pines. His victory Sunday ensures him at least five more chances, automatic entry to the national championship for that period being one of the side benefits of his title.