Despite his star-studded career and an impressive 45 PGA Tour wins, Phil Mickelson still has an unfulfilled dream: to become a grand slam champion. This dream has eluded Mickelson throughout his illustrious career, with the U.S. Open title remaining as the elusive missing piece in his trophy case. But as he inches towards the twilight of his career, the daunting task of achieving this dream seems more formidable than ever.
The pursuit of becoming a grand slam champion is nothing short of a rite of passage for the greats of the game. From Tiger Woods to Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and other iconic figures, the journey to the top has been paved with grand slam glories. For Mickelson, however, his quest for the U.S. Open remains a challenging endeavor, even after finishing as a runner-up in the major event six times over 15 years.
Mickelson’s rivalry with Tiger Woods has been a notable highlight of his career, with his 2002 defeat to Woods likely still a bitter memory. But with Woods now out of the picture, Mickelson’s dream has been rekindled. Yet, experts argue that time is not on his side, suggesting that it might be too late for him to clinch the title.
The narrative surrounding Mickelson’s elusive major dream was brought into sharp focus during a recent episode of Rex & Lav on the Golf Channel’s YouTube account. Rex Hoggard, a critical Golf Channel journalist, argued that Sergio Garcia’s Ryder Cup comeback presents a far more compelling story than Mickelson’s major dream. Noting that Mickelson is nearing the end of his career, Hoggard suggested that chasing majors now is unrealistic.
Ryan Lavner, Hoggard’s co-host, countered Hoggard’s argument by pointing out Mickelson’s near-win at the Masters two years ago. However, Hoggard responded by challenging Mickelson’s performance since his incredible final-round comeback. Asserting that Mickelson has done ‘absolutely nothing’ since then, Hoggard shifted the focus of the conversation towards Sergio Garcia’s Ryder Cup ambitions.
Garcia, who is aiming to make his 11th Ryder Cup appearance, is in the race to surpass Mickelson’s 12 appearances in the prestigious tournament. With Garcia’s recent performances raising eyebrows, Hoggard questioned whether Team Europe Captain Luke Donald would consider picking Garcia for the team. Hoggard himself responded affirmatively, praising Donald’s ‘all-in mentality’ and his willingness to use every edge possible to outperform Team USA.
The debate between Mickelson’s major dream and Garcia’s Ryder Cup reality presents an intriguing contrast. While Mickelson faces a steep challenge in his quest to win the U.S. Open, Garcia seems to have a more achievable goal. Garcia’s Ryder Cup record speaks for itself, with the Spaniard having missed only two tournaments in the last 26 years. Moreover, Garcia holds the record for the most Ryder Cup points accumulated by a player, further solidifying his standing as a top contender for Team Europe.
In light of these facts, it would seem that Garcia’s dream of making another Ryder Cup appearance is more achievable than Mickelson’s grand slam dream. However, the unpredictability of golf means that nothing can be taken for granted. Whether it’s Mickelson defying the odds to win the U.S. Open or Garcia earning another Ryder Cup cap, only time will tell.