Mickelson becomes oldest major winner at 50 with epic PGA Championship win
- 4 years ago
KIAWAH ISLAND, South Carolina: Phil Mickelson became the oldest major winner in golf history on Sunday (May 23), the 50-year-old left-hander capturing the PGA Championship by two strokes for his sixth and most iconic major title.
The age-defying American took the US$2.1 million top prize with an epic victory for the ages, producing a dazzling shot-making display at windy Kiawah Island while younger rivals faded.
"It has been an incredible day," Mickelson said. "Certainly one of the moments I'll cherish my entire life."
Mickelson erased the major age win mark set by American Julius Boros when he captured the 1968 PGA Championship at age 48.
"I don't know how to describe the feeling of excitement and fulfilment and accomplishment to do something of this magnitude when very few people thought that I could," Mickelson said.
Mickelson ground out a final-round one-over-par 73 to finish 72 holes on six-under 282, with South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, and American Brooks Koepka, a four-time major winner, sharing second on 284.
It was the first major victory for Mickelson since the 2013 British Open.
"This is just an incredible feeling because I believed that it was possible but yet everything was saying it wasn't," Mickelson said. "I hope others find that inspirational."
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner and long-time Mickelson rival, did, tweeting: "Truly inspirational to see @PhilMickelson do it again at 50 years of age. Congrats!!!!!!!"
Spectators created a surreal scene at the 18th hole, swarming around Mickelson after his second shot as he tried to walk to the 18th green, needing to three-putt from 16 feet for the epic triumph.
Source: CNA
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