It’s been said far too many times that you never know what you’re going to get from Phil Mickelson on the golf course, and thus far that’s proven true at the 2021 PGA Championship. So everyone knew to expect a whole lot of drama in Sunday’s final round at Kiawah Island.
But no one could have expected as much entertainment as Phil is providing early in his round.
Beginning with a one-shot lead, Mickelson quickly lost it at the 1st, when he made an ugly three-putt bogey against a textbook birdie by Brooks Koepka. It seemed the cracks had started to show for the 50-year-old former PGA champ.
But at the par-5 2nd, the lead flipped again, with Koepka making an uncharacteristic double-bogey 7. Mickelson, on the other hand, employed a nifty chip en route to birdie. Suddenly Mickelson once again had a two-shot lead.
It turns out his roller-coaster round was just getting started. Another shaky bogey followed for the five-time major champion at the 3rd, trimming his lead, but a truly signature moment came on the next hole.
At the long par-3 5th, Koepka found the green, while Mickelson lost his tee shot into a left greenside bunker. With little room to work with, it looked like another lead change was in order. But Lefty’s trademark wedge intervened.
He took a full swipe at the sand, landed his ball just onto the putting surface then watched as it rolled into the cup for a truly unlikely birdie, sending the packed galleries into a frenzy. Check out the moment below.
Koepka was unable to convert his birdie try, so Mickelson walked to the 6th once again leading by two, and now with some real momentum on his side.
