Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US Open at Oakmont a few weeks ago and the six-time major winner has now given the biggest clue yet as to whether he thinks he’s finished or not at the event.
Mickelson’s career form has ensured he’s always been part of the US Open but with exemptions expiring and LIV Golf not getting OWGR points, Mickelson’s time of being an automatic qualifier for the US Open is over.
Of course, now into his mid-50s, Mickelson doesn’t exactly need to compete and has very much earned the right to pick and choose when he plays.
However, golfers often can’t stay away from the major championships if they get a chance to play.
And while he missed the cut at Oakmont and suggested his US Open run might be over, Mickelson has now dropped a subtle hint that all might be not lost.
Photo by David Cannon/Getty ImagesPhil Mickelson says whether he’s going to play in another US Open
It’s a crying shame really that a player of Phil Mickelson’s calibre has never won the US Open.
He’s finished 2nd six times and has endured some of the most gut-wrenching finishes in the event to deny him glory.
Nevertheless, Mickelson has been speaking ahead of LIV Dallas this week and has suggested that actually, he might not be done at the US Open just yet.
“So I said it’s very possibly my last, and I think that’s real. However, I also feel like I’m starting to play some good golf, and I’ve had — this year has been my best year on LIV. I’ve had three top-6 finishes and some opportunities to win. If I play like that in some upcoming major championships, that could ultimately qualify me into another U.S. Open,” Mickelson admitted.
“I don’t want to say it’s my last. I actually think I’m playing well enough that if I can play at the level I’ve played at out here in majors again, I’ll finish high enough to get into a U.S. Open via that qualifying avenue.
“So I don’t want to say that it is my last because I think I’m going to contend in the — I’m in the other three majors for a lot of years, and it could very well get me into the U.S. Open again.”
Phil Mickelson deserves another chance at Shinnecock in 2026
Whether he qualifies or is given some sort of special invite or exemption, it’s hard to argue that a player of Mickelson’s calibre deserves at least one more shot.
Shinnecock was the venue for one of his biggest near misses at the US Open, when he threw it away to Reteif Goosen after a disastrous double bogey on the 17th.
With the 2026 event returning there, it would be some story if Mickelson was to play and somehow get in contention to win.
Despite all the comments between him and the PGA over the years and whatever people’s thoughts on LIV Golf are, Phil Mickelson has been one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game and with that, he deserves another shot.