Phil Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He is well regarded as one of the most crafty players on the tour. Mickelson is often called by his nickname “Lefty” because, well, he swings the club from the left side. Over the course of his career, Mickelson has won 49 professional titles and secured five Major victories. He is one of 16 players ever to have won three of the four majors. The only major victory that has eluded Mickelson is the U.S. Open where he has been a runner-up a record six times.
Also, Mickelson has been Tiger Woods main rival throughout their careers. Both are reportedly in talks for a one-on-one winner-take-all $10 million match.
So how much is Mickelson worth?
Net Worth as of 2019: $365 million
Mickelson has turned his successful golfing career into a very lucrative one. He not only gained his wealth through tournament prize winnings but also massive endorsement deals. Let’s take a look at his career accomplishments and how he obtained such a substantial net worth.
Early Life
WENN
Mickelson was born on June 16, 1970, in San Deigo, California. His father Philip Mickelson taught him the game of golf at an early age. Phil would learn his left-handed swing by mirroring his father’s right-handed swing. Besides swing his golf club from the left-side, Mickelson is naturally right-handed.
1989-1992
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Mickelson was awarded a golf scholarship from Arizona State University. At ASU, Mickelson became nationally known as the face of amateur U.S. golf. Mickelson won three NCAA individual national championships and was honored with the Haskin Award as the most outstanding collegiate golfer three times. The Sun Devils also won the NCAA team national championship in 1990 during Mickelson’s reign.
1993-2003
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Shortly after graduating from Arizona State, Mickelson turned pro. From an earlier 1991 PGA tour win as an amateur at Northern Telecom Open, in Tuscon, Mickelson was able to bypass the tour’s qualifying process.
Mickelson won the Byron Nelson Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf in 1996, the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 1998, the Colonial National Invitation in 2000 and the Greater Hartford Open in 2001 and again in 2002. Even with all those tour victories, a major title still eluded him.
Up until 2003, Mickelson finished in the top ten 17 times during his major appearances. The media dubbed him, “the best player never to win a major”.
2004-2009
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Mickelson finally got the monkey off his back in 2004. He dramatically won his first major championship as he knocked in a birdie putt on 18 to secure the 2004 Masters win on the final hole.
The 2004 year did not come without some controversy though as his sponsor Titleist dropped him. Mickelson left a voicemail with rival company Callaway Golf praising their equipment and thanking them for helping his brother get some of their clubs. The voicemail eventually made its way back to Titleist and strained the relationship ultimately leading to them dropping Mickelson. He subsequently signed with Callaway Golf whom he is still with currently.
Mickelson won his second major in 2005 at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol. He finished four under par and edged out Steve Elkington and Thomas Bjørn by one shot.
In the spring of 2006, Mickelson secured his second green jacket and third overall major of his career when he won the 2006 Masters. After the victory, Mickelson reached the highest ranking of his career as the No. 2 ranked golfer in the world.
Shortly after winning his 36th career tour victory, Mickelson was met with devastating news as his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mickelson immediately suspended his PGA tour schedule following the tragic news. His first golf tournament after the diagnoses occurred at the 2009 US Open. Mickelson would finish second to Lucas Glover after bogeys on 15 and 17 in the final round.
Tragedy again struck the Mickelson family as his mother Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer as well. Mary and Amy would receive treatment from the same medical facility.
Even with all that Mickelson endured during the 2009 calendar year he still managed to finish the season second behind Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup standings.
2010-Present
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The 2010 season got off to a good start as Mickelson claimed his third green jacket, winning the 2010 Masters. The victory raised his overall major championship wins to four. During Mickelson’s birdie putt that captured him the Masters win Jim Nantz called it on the broadcast, “That’s a win for the family” after all they had gone through in 2009.
In 2012, Mickelson hit the 40 career tour wins mark after he won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He would later go onto have a strong showing at the Masters finishing third.
In 2013, Mickelson won his fifth major championship at the Open Championship in Scotland. The win meant so much to Mickelson tears ran down his face on the 18th green. He moved just one US Open victory away from completing the career grand slam.
Since his Open Championship win, Mickelson has been hampered by inconsistent play, a swinging coach change, and injuries.
In March of 2018, Mickelson ended his winless streak that dated by to 2013 when he captured his third WGC championship at the WGC-Mexico Championship. He became the oldest winner of the event at 47 years old.
Currently, Mickelson ranks as second on the PGA Tours’ all-time money list for tournament prize winnings behind Tiger Woods. In 2011 he was rated as the second highest paid athlete in the world earning over $62 million. He is endorsed by KPMG, ExxonMobil (Mickelson and wife Amy started a teacher sponsorship fund with the company), Rolex, Workday, Inc., Callaway Golf and Mizzen+Main.
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2019
Phil Mickelson, who signed a high heeled shoe of a fan, missed the cut during his 30th phoenix open.
