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'Truly incredible': Golf world erupts over 'insane' Phil Mickelson moment

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured here, Phil Mickelson's incredible birdie from the bunker at five.
Phil Mickelson's bunker shot at the fifth will go down in major history. Pic: CBS Sports

Record-setting PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson took his place in history with an incredible final round performance at the Kiawah Ocean Course that included a moment set to fo down in major golfing history.

Mickelson turned back the clock to secure a two-shot victory over Brooks Koepka and South African Louis Oosthuizen to become the oldest major winner in history, aged 50.

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The six-time major winner, who began the day with a one-shot lead over Koepka, put the finishing touches on one of the most impressive feats in golf with a one-over-par 73 at the Ocean Course that left him at six under for the week.

While Mickelson's historic feat is already etched in the record books, it was his bunker shot at the fifth that will be spoken about for years to come.

With Koepka breathing down his neck and multiple lead changes taking place on the opening holes, Mickelson came up with a moment of magic after finding the bunker at the par-three fifth.

Showing absolute nerves of steel from the green-side sand trap, 'Lefty' showed why he's renowned as one of the best in the business from the bunker, holing out for birdie in an extraordinary moment that lit up social media.

Mickelson holds on for famous win

The amazing shot saw Mickelson jump out to a two-shot lead and while Koepka again pulled level at the sixth, that was as close as the 31-year-old got as Mickelson came home for a famous win.

By collecting the sixth major of his career and first since the 2013 British Open, Mickelson surpassed Julius Boros, who was 48 years old when he won the 1968 PGA Championship, as the oldest major winner.

After an eventful front nine that produced twists and turns at seemingly every hole, it was fan-favourite Mickelson who emerged two shots clear at the turn and soaking up energy from the limited spectators in attendance at the year's second major.

Mickelson moved three shots clear after a birdie at the par-four 10th and the final stretch was more a coronation than a dogfight as four-times major champion Koepka and 2010 British Open winner Oosthuizen ran out of holes.

Seen here, Phil Mickelson holds the PGA Championship trophy aloft.
Phil Mickelson PGA Championship win was Lefty's sixth major of a glittering career. Pic: Getty

Mickelson, who led by five shots with six holes to play, did see his lead cut to two shots after bogeys at the 13th and 14th compounded by a birdie at the 16th by Oosthuizen, who was playing in the penultimate pairing.

But with victory in sight, an undeterred Mickelson showed great resolve and even flashed a thumbs-up to the crowd as he went on to reclaim a three-shot cushion with a birdie at the 16th before a bogey-par finish.

Oosthuizen (73) and Koepka (74) finished in a share of second place while European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington (69), Ireland's Shane Lowry (69), Englishman Paul Casey (71) and Harry Higgs (70) were a further two shots back in fourth place.

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, who won the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in 2012 and was a favourite this week, closed with an even-par 72 that left him at five over par.

with agencies

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