Getty Images
ROCHESTER, NY – Watching Phil Mickelson and Justin Thomas walk down the 18th lane on Sunday in Oak Hill, it was easy to forget that this week marked a title defense for both of them.
With the first afternoon sun looming high in the sky, Mickelson and Thomas moved quickly on the 18th early Sunday afternoon. Thomas, the 2022 PGA Champion, went first, as far as par. Then Phil came.
The last time Mickelson found himself on the 72nd green at this major, he was doing so as the most unlikely champ in recent memory; Stunning 50 year old on Kiawah Island in 2021. On Sunday there will be no such magic. He put Birdie in tie for 60th, leaving the course about two hours before the leaders arrived.
As he was walking from the 72nd green, he passed an old friend, Bones Mackay (now Lupe Thomas). Again that day, Mackay and Mickelson won his second of his six majors in this championship just a few hours south in Baltusrol. But if there was a bit of nostalgia, Mickelson certainly didn’t show it. Mackay show Quick fist bump And I went to the registered area. When asked about their day together a few minutes later, Phil demurred.
“Well, he didn’t He playsMichelson said shyly.
When asked again, he offered only three words.
“it was good.”
It turns out that was only the beginning of the weirdness. Mickelson was speaking to a group of reporters for 10 minutes after his round on Sunday, answering a range of questions about the state of the golf world. But his answers will only reinforce the subtle tone that has been his favorite voice on Twitter and beyond for the past several months.
Mickelson tackled a variety of topics over the course of his time, but it was a question about Twitter itself that would provide the most interesting response of the session.
“I think it’s because I know some things that other people don’t,” he said of his recently announced “slimness.”
“I just want to make sure they are held accountable.”
As for from He would have liked to see accountability, Mickelson had some goals. The first was expected – the PGA Tour – although Mickelson’s caution neglected to provide much by way of detail.
He said, “I don’t want to go into specifics.” “I know a lot of things will come up later, and I appreciate that they are being held accountable.”
Then Mickelson’s attention turned to the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, whose captains would soon be responsible for determining the Ryder Cup rosters.
“I don’t see the utility of the Ryder Cup changing from what it has been historically — ie, the United States versus Europe. I mean, it was originally Great Britain and Ireland and now it’s Europe,” Phil said, parroting a point he shared on Twitter related to the boards of golf and the LIV. “I mean, I don’t see the point in changing that. I don’t see any concern from the PGA of America what people do for a living.”
Mickelson’s current job means he’s close to Lev’s pulse. And luckily, two of the biggest players in the league (Bresson Dechambeau and Brooks Koepka) entered the PGA on Sunday with a legitimate chance at winning. Phil shared little about either player – he said both had been “playing well” in the run-up to this week – but he’s made a major league defense.
“I’ve made 48 professional opportunities, which is incredible, but I don’t think about that right now,” he said. “I think about three to five years, where we’ll be. We’re still only a year away. For me, it’s just getting started. Two more years, when you need to look back and say, OK, where do we want to be?”
LIV aside, it’s fair to wonder where Mickelson will be in two years’ time, by which time he’ll turn 55. Above all, PGA Week was a reminder of the uncertainty now surrounding his golfing future. Just two years ago, he left golf’s second major on top of the world, his sixth major that cemented his legacy as one of the game’s all-time best players. But the seven hundred days since then have not been like this.
The next time golfers will see Phil will be at the US Open next month, where he will arrive with a chance to complete a Grand Slam. Mickelson will likely arrive in LA with all the answers – as he did in April’s stunning second-place finish at the Augusta National.
But those won’t be found at this week’s PGA Championship. Either on or off the course.