Phil Mickelson 55-year-old golf legend with 6 majors, $300M net worth, and a historic career from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. Full biography inside.
Phil Mickelson is one of the most celebrated golfers in the history of professional sport. Known the world over by his nickname “Lefty,” the San Diego native has won six major championships, 45 PGA Tour titles, and became the oldest major winner in golf history when he claimed the 2021 PGA Championship at age 50. Few careers in any sport have blended such sustained brilliance, personality, and controversy as his.
Over more than three decades in professional golf, Mickelson evolved from a college prodigy into a global icon. His left-handed swing, creative shot-making, and crowd-pleasing style made him one of the sport’s most beloved figures — while his decisions off the course, including joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour in 2022, kept him at the center of the game’s biggest conversations.
Quick Facts About Phil Mickelson
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Philip Alfred Mickelson |
| Date of Birth | June 16, 1970 |
| Age | 55 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, USA |
| Profession | Professional Golfer |
| Current Tour | LIV Golf (HyFlyers GC) |
| Net Worth | ~$300 million (2026) |
| Spouse | Amy McBride (m. 1996) |
| Children | 3 (Amanda, Sophia, Evan) |
| Education | Arizona State University |
| Famous For | 6 Major Championships; Oldest Major Winner (2021) |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | Inducted 2012 |
Early Life: Born Into Golf
Phil Mickelson was practically born with a golf club in his hands. His father, Phil Sr., was an airline pilot and passionate amateur golfer who introduced his son to the sport at just 18 months old. Growing up in San Diego, young Phil learned the game by mirroring his father’s right-handed swing — an accidental imitation that meant he played left-handed despite being right-handed in nearly every other activity. That quirk would become his trademark.
The talent was undeniable from the very beginning. Mickelson dominated San Diego-area junior tournaments throughout his youth and captured an unprecedented three consecutive national Junior Player of the Year awards between 1986 and 1988. By the time he was a teenager, he was already regarded as one of the most gifted young golfers in the United States.
Education and Amateur Excellence at Arizona State
Mickelson earned a full scholarship to Arizona State University, where his talent reached new heights. He graduated from the University of San Diego High School in 1988 and went on to study psychology at ASU. On the golf course, he was almost untouchable. He won three individual NCAA Championships — a record he shares with Ben Crenshaw — and earned first-team All-American honors all four years, a remarkable achievement in collegiate golf.
In 1990, during his junior year, Mickelson became the first left-hander to win the U.S. Amateur title. That same year, still an amateur at age 20, he stunned the professional field by winning the Northern Telecom Open on the PGA Tour — making him just the fourth collegiate player ever to win a PGA Tour event as an amateur. He turned professional in 1992 immediately after graduating, armed with a two-year Tour exemption from that Tucson victory.
PGA Tour Career: 45 Wins and Six Majors
Mickelson wasted no time establishing himself on the PGA Tour. His first professional win came in 1993 at Torrey Pines, and over the following decade he accumulated victories at a steady pace. However, the biggest knock on his early career was an inability to win a major — a drought made more painful by six runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open alone.
That all changed in April 2004, when Mickelson birdied the final hole at Augusta National to win the Masters Tournament in electrifying fashion. The moment — fist pumping, arms raised — became one of golf’s iconic images. He followed with the PGA Championship in 2005, the Masters again in 2006 and 2010, and the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2013, where he famously shot 66 in the final round. His sixth and perhaps greatest major came in May 2021, when he won the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island at the age of 50, breaking the record for oldest major winner in golf history by two years.
In total, Mickelson won 45 PGA Tour events (8th all-time) and 57 professional titles worldwide. He reached a career-high world ranking of No. 2 in February 2001 and spent 25 consecutive years inside the top 50.
The LIV Golf Chapter
In 2022, Mickelson became one of the most high-profile players to join LIV Golf, the Saudi Arabia–backed breakaway tour. Reports indicated his signing bonus was approximately $200 million, making it one of the most lucrative contracts in sports history. The decision was not without cost. Sponsors KPMG, Workday, and Amstel Light ended their partnerships almost immediately. Callaway paused its formal arrangement. Mickelson also faced scrutiny over controversial remarks about the Saudi government that he made prior to the tour’s launch.
Despite the backlash, Mickelson remained a central figure at LIV, captaining the HyFlyers GC team. He has been candid in interviews about how the experience — including being allowed to wear shorts on the course and having more say in the product — reinvigorated his enthusiasm for the game. His active endorsements as of 2026 include Rolex, Ford, Intrepid Financial Partners, Grayhawk, and Primo Golf Apparel, which he announced in January 2025.
Personal Life: Family, Faith, and Resilience
Phil met Amy McBride in 1992 when they were both students at Arizona State University — he was the star golfer, she was a cheerleader for the Phoenix Suns. They married on November 16, 1996, and have built a deeply close-knit family. The couple have three children: Amanda, born in 1999; Sophia, born in 2001; and Evan, born in 2003. Evan’s birth was particularly harrowing — Phil later revealed his son did not breathe for seven minutes and that Amy came close to losing her life during a serious complication.
In 2009, Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Phil immediately stepped back from golf to be by her side. Remarkably, not long after Amy began her recovery, Phil’s mother was also diagnosed with the same disease. Both women recovered fully, and the experience underscored the values that have defined Mickelson away from golf. Since 2004, Phil and Amy have run the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation, which funds youth and family initiatives focused on education and health.
Net Worth and Career Earnings
Phil Mickelson’s net worth is estimated at approximately $300 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth — though some estimates place the figure higher depending on how his LIV contract is valued. His career earnings tell an extraordinary story: roughly $112.8 million in tournament prize money (including $81 million from the PGA Tour), combined with more than $800 million in endorsements and appearances over his career. When the reported $200 million LIV signing bonus is factored in, his lifetime gross earnings exceed $1 billion — making him only the second golfer after Tiger Woods to reach that milestone.
However, well-documented gambling losses — reported to be as high as $100 million over certain periods of his career — mean the gap between gross earnings and retained wealth is substantial. His financial story is as complex as his career itself.
Legacy and Hall of Fame Status
Mickelson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012, cementing his status among the sport’s all-time greats. His six major championships place him fifth on the all-time list alongside Lee Trevino and Sir Nick Faldo. Beyond the trophies, his impact on golf’s popularity — particularly among casual fans who loved his attacking style and willingness to attempt the near-impossible — is impossible to quantify.
He is also a three-time Ryder Cup hero and has represented the United States in five Ryder Cups and eight Presidents Cups. As golf navigates its fractured landscape between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, Mickelson remains one of the sport’s most compelling and polarizing figures.
Wrapping Up
Phil Mickelson’s career is one of sport’s great stories — a combination of extraordinary talent, perseverance, personal struggle, and bold decision-making. From the backyard of a San Diego family home to six major championships and a billion dollars in career earnings, “Lefty” has never done anything the conventional way.
At 55, Mickelson continues to compete and remains deeply invested in shaping golf’s future. Whether history ultimately views his LIV move as a courageous stand or a controversial detour, few can dispute the scale of what he has achieved. The 2021 PGA Championship alone — won at an age when most professionals are playing on the seniors circuit — stands as one of the most remarkable feats in golf history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Phil Mickelson?
Phil Mickelson is an American professional golfer born on June 16, 1970, in San Diego, California. He is a six-time major champion and 45-time PGA Tour winner, nicknamed “Lefty” for his left-handed swing despite being naturally right-handed. As of 2026, he competes on the LIV Golf tour with HyFlyers GC.
Q2: How old is Phil Mickelson?
Phil Mickelson is 55 years old as of June 2026. He was born on June 16, 1970, and famously won the 2021 PGA Championship at the age of 50, becoming the oldest major winner in golf history.
Q3: What is Phil Mickelson’s net worth?
Phil Mickelson’s net worth is estimated at approximately $300 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His lifetime gross earnings exceed $1 billion when prize money, endorsements, and his reported $200 million LIV Golf signing bonus are combined.
Q4: Who is Phil Mickelson’s wife?
Phil Mickelson’s wife is Amy McBride Mickelson, whom he married on November 16, 1996. They met as students at Arizona State University in 1992. Amy is a breast cancer survivor and co-runs the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation with her husband.
Q5: How many majors has Phil Mickelson won?
Phil Mickelson has won six major championships: the Masters Tournament in 2004, 2006, and 2010; the PGA Championship in 2005 and 2021; and The Open Championship in 2013. He also finished as runner-up at the U.S. Open six times.
Q6: Why did Phil Mickelson join LIV Golf?
Mickelson joined LIV Golf in 2022 for a reported $200 million signing bonus, becoming one of the tour’s most high-profile recruits. He has cited greater creative input and improved quality of life as factors. The move cost him several major sponsorships but has not dampened his enthusiasm for competing.
Q7: What is Phil Mickelson’s nickname and why?
Phil Mickelson’s nickname is “Lefty.” Despite being right-handed in everyday life, he learned to play golf by mirroring his right-handed father’s swing, making him a left-handed golfer. The nickname has followed him throughout his entire career.
