[2020's Great Challenge⑤] Mickelson "What About My Bad Luck with the US Open?"

"Leaving the Last Puzzle of the 'Career Grand Slam' with Six Runner-up Finishes 'Jinx', Final Spark Through Long Drive Research"

For veteran Phil Mickelson, the US Open is the final puzzle on the path to a career Grand Slam.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Almost within reach, yet elusive."

Veteran Phil Mickelson (USA) is the final puzzle piece to becoming the sixth 'Career Grand Slammer' in global golf history with his third major, the US Open. Over nine years, he collected three different major championship trophies: the Masters in 2004, the PGA Championship in 2005, and The Open Championship in 2013. However, the US Open has been a stumbling block, where he finished runner-up six times?in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2013. It is truly a 'persistent bitter fate.'

It is intriguing that Mickelson is right-handed but plays left-handed. He learned golf facing his father, Jim Mickelson, a Navy pilot, which caused a 'mirror effect.' After a brilliant junior career, he shocked the world by winning the Northern Telecom Open on the PGA Tour as an amateur in 1991. His consistency is remarkable, having won at least one tournament every year up to last year, totaling 22 times. He has 44 PGA Tour wins in total.

Phil Mickelson is taking a commemorative photo with his family right after winning the 2013 Open Championship.

It is unfortunate that his prime years overlapped with 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA), overshadowing him. In fact, he finished second 36 times and third 28 times. However, Mickelson earned American fans' affection beyond Woods through his exceptional family love. When his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, he wore a 'Pink Ribbon' symbolizing the prevention campaign, and when surgery was decided, he immediately left the tour to stay by her side.

In 2013, during the US Open, he made headlines for flying 3,800 km to San Diego a day before the tournament to attend his eldest daughter Amanda's elementary school graduation. After returning by private jet to Philadelphia Airport at 4:30 a.m., he rushed to the fierce battleground Marion Golf Course and teed off at 7:11 a.m. It is astonishing that Mickelson finished second after intense competition throughout all four rounds.

Phil Mickelson will challenge the 'Career Grand Slam' at the US Open this September.

In 2014, his mental state was shaken by an FBI investigation into 'insider trading.' In July 2011, corporate raider Carl Icahn announced a surprise acquisition of Clorox, famous for bleach, causing the stock price to surge 8.9% in one day. Mickelson was accused of making significant profits through large option purchase orders. He finished tied for 64th in 2015, missed the cut in 2016, and skipped the 2017 tournament entirely as the first round coincided with his daughter's high school graduation.

After no wins since the 2013 Open Championship, he demonstrated his potential again by winning the World Golf Championships (WGC) Mexico Championship in March 2018. Particularly meaningful was his victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last February. Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, USA, is the venue for the US Open held in June. Surprisingly, he was held back by putting throughout the four rounds at the US Open, finishing tied for 52nd.

This year, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the originally scheduled June US Open was postponed to September 17. Mickelson, ranked 63rd in the world, has not yet secured a spot. Fortunately, the US Open organizing committee is considering a 'special invitation.' Recently, he revealed his hunter instinct by learning long-drive secrets from Kyle Berkshire, the recent World Long Drive Championship winner. Considering his age of 50, time is running out.