Honestly, it feels like Phil Mickelson has been around forever. If you grew up watching golf in the 90s, he was there. If you started watching during the Tiger era, he was the guy with the thumbs-up and the wild flop shots. Even now, in 2026, he’s still the main character of the conversation.
So, how old is golfer Phil Mickelson exactly?
Phil Mickelson is 55 years old. Born on June 16, 1970, in San Diego, California, he has officially entered that territory where most athletes are looking for the nearest rocking chair. But "Lefty" isn't most athletes. While most 50-somethings are happy to break 90 at the local muni, Phil is still out there trying to prove that age is basically just a number on a scorecard.
The Longevity Nobody Saw Coming
When Phil turned 50, people thought that was the beginning of the end. Then he went out and won the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. He was 50 years and 11 months old. That win didn't just break records; it shattered the idea of what a "senior" golfer could do. He became the oldest man ever to win a major championship, taking the title from Julius Boros, who had held it since 1968.
Fast forward to January 2026. Phil is now mid-way through his 50s. He’s spent more than 35 years in the spotlight. Think about that for a second. He won his first PGA Tour event while he was still an amateur at Arizona State in 1991. He’s literally been winning professional golf tournaments since before some of his current LIV Golf teammates were even born.
Phil Mickelson Age and the LIV Golf Reality
These days, you’ll mostly find Phil captaining the HyFlyers GC on the LIV Golf circuit. It's been a wild ride. Since jumping ship from the PGA Tour in 2022, his age has been a constant talking point. Some critics say he’s "past his prime," but his performance in 2025 showed he’s still got some juice left in the tank.
- He notched three top-10 finishes in the 2025 LIV season.
- He grabbed a 3rd-place podium finish in Hong Kong last year.
- His driving distance is still hovering around 305 yards.
It’s actually kinda crazy. Most guys lose speed once they hit 45. Phil? He’s obsessed with it. He went through a massive physical transformation a few years back—coffee fasts, intense gym sessions, the whole bit. He looks leaner at 55 than he did at 35.
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Why 55 is the New 35 for "Lefty"
There is a specific reason why Phil Mickelson is still relevant at 55. It isn't just luck. It's the short game. If you watch him play today, his hands are still as soft as they were when he won his first Masters in 2004.
He recently admitted that his analytics showed his short game "crushed" him for a couple of years, but he's been grinding to get it back. In the 2025 season, his putting average was still among the top in his league. He’s 55, and he’s still out-putting guys who have 20/20 vision and perfect joints.
The PGA Tour "Return" Drama
Right now, in early 2026, there’s a lot of noise about LIV players returning to the PGA Tour. Brooks Koepka just made a big move back, but Phil is in a different boat. The PGA Tour’s "Returning Member Program" currently has a cutoff that basically excludes Phil because his last major win (2021) was just a year too early.
Does he care? Doesn't seem like it. He’s been pretty vocal about being happy where he is. He’s 55, he’s got 45 PGA Tour wins, 6 majors, and a Hall of Fame legacy. He’s playing the "elder statesman" role now, mentoring younger players like David Puig and Jackson Koivun.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Age
The biggest misconception is that Phil is just "hanging on." People see the age—55—and assume he’s just collecting a paycheck. But if you've ever seen him on a Saturday afternoon when he's two shots off the lead, the fire is still there.
He’s mentioned recently that he’s looking at the "next 10 years." He isn't talking about retirement; he’s talking about how to shape the future of the game. He’s become a bit of a polarizing figure, sure, but you can’t deny the durability.
Phil Mickelson's Milestone Timeline:
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- Age 20: Wins his first PGA Tour event as an amateur (1991 Northern Telecom Open).
- Age 33: Finally wins his first major at The Masters (2004).
- Age 43: Wins The Open Championship with arguably the best final round of his life (2013).
- Age 50: Becomes the oldest major winner in history (2021).
- Age 55: Continues as a franchise captain in LIV Golf (2026).
The Bottom Line on Phil Mickelson's Age
Phil is 55, but in the world of golf, he’s a biological anomaly. He’s the bridge between the old guard and the new "power game" era. While his days of winning five tournaments a year are probably over, he remains one of the few players who can actually draw a crowd just by walking onto the range.
If you want to play like Phil as you get older, the lesson is pretty simple: focus on flexibility and don't lose your touch around the greens. He’s proof that you don't have to retire just because the calendar says so.
To keep up with Phil’s current form, you should track his "Strokes Gained: Putting" stats during the 2026 LIV season. It’s the best indicator of whether he’ll be a threat in the upcoming majors, where he still holds lifetime exemptions for The Masters and the PGA Championship.