Inside the Ropes: Mickelson rues lost major opportunities

Inside the Ropes: Mickelson rues lost major opportunities









Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange July 1, 2013 12:10 AMThe SportsXchange


There was a time when the golf world was wondering when, not if, Phil Mickelson would win a major championship.



Now, after failing to close the deal at Merion while holding the lead in the final round, recording a record sixth runner-up finish in the U.S. Open without winning the national championship, there is another question.



Even though he is 43, Mickelson still has the game to win one of the Big Four events, but despite his successes, more often than not either the golf gods do not smile on him or he seems to get in his own way.



"At 43, I feel as good as I've ever felt," Mickelson said at Merion. "I feel like I'm in better shape than I've been in years. I feel stronger than I've been, more flexible. And I've had no injuries or aches or pains."



Mickelson appeared in a television commercial a few years back in which there was yet another question: "What will Phil do next?"




Moving forward, it would seem that he needs to win more majors in order to avoid ending up like Greg Norman, another great champion who is known more for his failures than his triumphs.



"(Mickelson) is gonna win some more majors; he's not done.



Harmon also said of Mickelson at Merion: "He is swinging the club as good as I've ever seen him hit it."



"For me, it's very heartbreaking," Mickelson said in the aftermath at Merion. "This could have been ... a really big turnaround for me on how I look at the U.S. Open and the tournament that I'd like to win, after having so many good opportunities.



There was resignation in his voice and his eyes, but no doubt he will come out swinging again this week as he always does, and who knows, maybe he will have a chance in two weeks at Muirfield in the 142nd Open Championship.



Clarke's victory had to give Mickelson and the rest of golf's 40-somethings hope. Mickelson undoubtedly knows that Hale Iwin was the oldest U.S. Open winner at 45 in 1990 at Medinah, and that Julius Boros was the oldest major winner at 48 in the 1968 PGA Championship at Pecan Valley in San Antonio.