Phil Mickelson has etched his name as one of the best golfers ever, as his six major titles are more than all but 11 golfers in the sport’s history. However, there is still a hole in his resume, as he is a U.S. Open short of winning the career grand slam.
Mickelson’s major history had a rocky start, as he won his first major 15 years after making his first major tournament start. Still, while Mickelson has been able to conquer three of golf’s major tests, he has developed demons at the U.S. Open, faltering in some of the biggest moments.
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Due to Mickelson’s presence on the LIV Tour, this could be the lefty’s last chance to win the U.S. Open. After this year, he will need to participate in the 36-hole qualifying to earn a spot.
“I haven’t thought about it too much,” Mickelson said, via Golf Digest. “There’s a high likelihood that it will be, but I haven’t really thought about it too much.”
With that in mind, here’s a look back at Mickelson’s U.S. Open history and his closest calls at the major.
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Phil Mickelson U.S. Open history
| Year | Result | Location |
| 2024 | CUT | Pinehurst (NC) |
| 2023 | CUT | L.A. Country Club (CA) |
| 2022 | CUT | The Country Club (MA) |
| 2021 | T-62 | Torrey Pines (CA) |
| 2020 | CUT | Winged Foot (NY) |
| 2019 | T-52 | Pebble Beach (CA) |
| 2018 | T-42 | Shinnecock Hills (NY) |
| 2016 | CUT | Oakmont (PA) |
| 2015 | T-64 | Chambers Bay (WA) |
| 2014 | T-28 | Pinehurst (NC) |
| 2013 | T-2 | Merion (PA) |
| 2012 | T-65 | Olympic Club |
| 2011 | T-54 | Congressional CC (MD) |
| 2010 | T-4 | Pebble Beach (CA) |
| 2009 | T-2 | Bethpage Black (NY) |
| 2008 | T-18 | Torrey Pines (CA) |
| 2007 | CUT | Oakmont (PA) |
| 2006 | T-2 | Winged Foot (NY) |
| 2005 | T-33 | Pinehurst (NC) |
| 2004 | 2 | Bethpage Black (NY) |
| 2003 | T-55 | Olympia Fields (IL) |
| 2002 | 2 | Bethpage Plack (NY) |
| 2001 | T-7 | Southern Hills (OK) |
| 2000 | T-16 | Pebble Beach (CA) |
| 1999 | 2 | Pinehurst (NC) |
| 1998 | T-10 | Olympic Club (CA) |
| 1997 | T-43 | Congressional CC (MD) |
| 1996 | T-94 | Bloomfield Hills (MI) |
| 1995 | T-4 | Shinnecock Hills (NY) |
| 1994 | T-47 | Oakmont (PA) |
| 1992 | CUT | Pebble Beach (CA) |
| 1991 | T-55 | Hazeltine (MN) |
| 1990 | T-29 | Medinah (IL) |
MORE: Every U.S. Open winner by year
Phil Mickelson U.S. Open runner up finishes
Mickelson has finished as the U.S. Open runner up six different times, which is a record number for the event. Here’s a breakdown of each time he came in second at the U.S. Open.
1999 U.S. Open
Mickelson’s first U.S. Open was an iconic moment in golf history, as Payne Stewart won the tournament as his last major victory before he died later that year. Mickelson had a share of the lead at Pinehurst after each of the first two rounds, then was one shot behind Stewart entering Sunday. They both shot even par on Sunday, but Stewart drained a 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole to take the tournament away form Mickelson.
Stewart and Mickelson had a memorable moment after the tournament, when Stewart congratulated Mickelson for soon becoming a father. Mickelson was actually ready to leave the tournament if his wife went into labor, but he was able to play the tournament then be there for his daughter’s birth on Monday.
On this day in 1999, the world lost Payne Stewart. Of course, we still miss him. pic.twitter.com/AbwCZdaLhx
— Pinehurst Resort (@PinehurstResort) October 25, 2018
MORE: Complete breakdown of Phil Mickelson’s majors timeline
2002 U.S. Open
While Mickelson finished second at the 2002 U.S. Open, he was battling from behind the entire tournament as Tiger Woods won in a wire-to-wire victory at Bethpage Black. Mickelson was never closer than three shots back of Woods after each round, but while Woods was the only golfer to finish the tournament under par, winning it all at -3, Mickelson’ even-par tournament was good enough for second.
Of his runner up finishes, this one likely hurt Mickelson the least, thanks largely to the support throughout the week from fans in New York.
2004 U.S. Open
In 2004, Mickelson finally won his first major at the Masters, and he was riding high heading into the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. The golfer was tied for the lead after two rounds, and was two shots behind leader Retief Goosen entering Sunday.
Mickelson caught up to Goosen in the final round, as he even took a one-shot lead heading into the final two holes after two straight birdies. However, Mickelson double-bogeyed the par-3 17th hole with a brutal three-putt, as Goosen won the event by two.
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2006 U.S. Open
While 1999 and 2004 represent two of Mickelson’s toughest losses, 2006 features his toughest individual moment. He was tied for the lead entering Sunday at Winged Foot, and had either a share of the lead or solo lead for most of the back nine.
Mickelson was up one shot on Geoff Ogilvy with one hole to play, but Ogilvy was in the clubhouse with his score. While Mickelson needed a par or better to win or bogey to force extra holes, he pushed his driver into the hospitality tent and couldn’t recover, double-bogeying the hole to lose by one.
2009 U.S. Open
Mickelson’s runner-up finish at Bethpage Black in 2009 was not as heartbreaking as some of the others, but it was still tough nonetheless. Mickelson was remarkably consistent throughout the week, shooting either 70 or 69 in each of his four rounds, while the rest of the field rose up the leaderboard before dropping back.
Mickelson entered Sunday six shots back of Ricky Barnes for the lead, with five other players either tied with him or ahead of him. As the final round was split between Sunday and Monday due to weather, players around Mickelson struggled while Mickelson himself tied Lucas Glover for the lead after eagling 13. However, two bogeys in the final four holes proved costly, as Glover won the tournament by two.
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2013 U.S. Open
In 2013, Mickelson had the lead after each of the first three rounds at Merion, once again staring down a chance at his first U.S. Open. The final round featured another Mickelson heartbreak, as he once again faltered down the stretch.
This time, Mickelson had either the solo lead or a share of the lead early in the back nine, as Justin Rose and Jason Day were right there with him. On the 13th hole, Rose birdied ahead of Mickelson, before the lefty bogeyed the hole himself, and Mickelson was unable to catch Rose from there.Â
A month later, Mickelson won his first British Open, putting him just a U.S. Open short of the career grand slam.
