Phil Mickelson tees it up in his 32nd US Open on Thursday, vying to complete a career Grand Slam with a victory that seems perhaps more achievable since his tie for second at the Masters.
Mickelson, who will turn 53 on Friday, has made the cut in 26 of his prior 31 starts in the US Open. He’s finished runner-up a record six times, but only once since he won the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield to capture a third leg of the Grand Slam.
Here’s a brief look at Mickelson’s record six US Open runner-up finishes:
1999, Pinehurst No. 2
Mickelson trailed Payne Stewart going into the final round and took the lead at the 12th. But Mickelson bogeyed the 16th and Stewart birdied 17 and rolled in an 18-foot putt for par at the last for the one-stroke victory.
2002, Bethpage Black
Mickelson’s even-par final round left him alone in second, three shots behind Tiger Woods.
2004, Shinnecock Hills
Mickelson seized a share of the final-round lead with birdies at 15 and 16, but he three-putted the 17th for double-bogey and finished two strokes behind South Africa’s Retief Goosen.
2006, Winged Foot
Mickelson led by two through 14 holes of the final round and held a one-shot led over Geoff Ogilvy as he arrived at the 72nd hole.
Needing a par to win and a bogey to force an 18-hole playoff, Mickelson bounced his tee shot off a tent. He would go on to hit a tree and find a bunker en route to a double-bogey and a tie for second, one shot behind Australia’s Ogilvy.
2009, Bethpage Black
Mickelson eagled the par-five 13th hole to pull even with Lucas Glover. But he bogeyed 15 and 17 to finish tied for second, two shots behind his fellow American.
2013, Merion
Mickelson took a one-shot lead into the final round but had two double-bogeys in his first five holes. Three bogeys in his final six holes saw him finish tied for second, two behind champion Justin Rose.
