Much was written and said about Phil Mickelson in the days leading up to The Masters and in the early rounds.
Reporters, analysts, fellow golfers, Twitter users and others all had plenty to say about the three-time Masters champion.
Most of them made the same points. His days as a competitive golfer are long gone, people said. Others claimed Mickelson sold his soul to leave the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf, even as he frankly admitted the Saudis were “scary ————- to get involved with.”
There were stories written about how the large crowds that once adored Mickelson barely acknowledged him this time around. Others talked about about how he was a silent pariah of sorts at the annual Masters dinner for past champions.
Well, Phil Mickelson, the widely criticized so-called deserter, sellout and washed-up golfer, carded a final round 65 at Augusta National Sunday to finish tied for second on the scoreboard with Brooks Koepka at 8-under, four shots behind winner Jon Rahm.
To say Mickelson had the last laugh on all the naysayers doesn’t do justice to what he experienced Sunday afternoon.
Have watched a lot of Phil Mickelson and never seen him fight off a grin like this pic.twitter.com/fc9RgXwZFS
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) April 9, 2023
In the end, this was an incredible performance, one that ranks right there with his stunning win in the 2021 PGA Championship. While the 52-year-old Mickelson will always have this Masters to cherish, there remains the question of what this might do for his image and his legacy.
Mickelson will undoubtedly remain persona non grata for many fans and fellow golfers for his ties to the controversial LIV Golf tour. But will this Masters performance change the way many fans feel about him?
Twitter had plenty of interesting comments about Mickelson after Sunday’s scorching final round.
Couples went in on Phil Mickelson, saying “If you’re giving Phil Mickelson $200 million at age 52 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you.”
This aged like room temperature milk. pic.twitter.com/7KnLv6vuSO
— Burner 🔥 (@GimmieBirdie) April 9, 2023
All my respect goes to Jon Rahm to win the #masters. But I still have the same respect to @PhilMickelson who shot a 65 in the final round! 💪 pic.twitter.com/fXjHX0w43T
— Alexander Sommer (@valueCampus) April 10, 2023
Just rewatched Phil’s Final Round 65 at #TheMasters and (like BK’s 1st rd) the crazy part is it could’ve been lower. Had a 3 putt & burned some edges. So good! 🔥@PhilMickelson's Final Round | Every Single Shot | The Masters https://t.co/6PHmOh7jwv via @YouTube
— Pro Golf Critic (@ProGolfCritic) April 10, 2023
Mickelson @ 52 yrs old ,finishing second at the Masters ,
shooting a 65 in final round today is a amazing feat . Welcome back Phil Mickelson . Your fans still love you . You were just as big of a winner Phil this week as Rahmbo was. @PhilMickelson— Wildcat Jimmy (@jimmy_beardown) April 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/GaryBlum9/status/1645278824102232066
@PhilMickelson
Great performance at the Masters, and my congrats to you on changing golf to benefit players of the LIV tour & the PGA. You are a true leader and maverick who by taking a stand for professional golfers increased the monies in both tours. A true Master of golf.— Aloha4Trump (@withTru_u_th) April 10, 2023
Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka are cool making that kind of money from the LIV Golf tour, but the funding comes from Saudi Arabia, a country long accused of human rights violations and played a role in the death of a journalist. I’m glad that neither of them won the Masters.
— Robin Byrd (@RobinByrd3) April 10, 2023
It just truly hit me that Phil mickelson was 4 strokes away from winning the masters. This guy is a legend of the game and he is one of the greatest longevity athletes in the history of sports. We are lucky to witness him.
— Tour Pro 🏌️♂️ (@OfficialTourPro) April 10, 2023
