UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Hmmm … what to give Phil Mickelson for his 45th birthday?
The man has almost everything, of course, so how about a harsh reminder: Historically speaking, this is likely his last chance to win that elusive U.S. Open.
Golf’s toughest major only gets more difficult to win as the years and scar tissue pile up.
Hale Irwin is the oldest winner of this championship; he was 45 years and 15 days old when he won in 1990. If Mickelson were to hoist the silver trophy on Sunday, he’d be only 10 days younger.