The following year Phil Mickelson began attending Arizona State University on a golf scholarship. While at Arizona State, he won the U.S. Amateur title in 1990. The following year, in 1991, he won his first PGA Tour event at the Northern Telecom Open, although he was still only an amateur golfer.
In 1993, Phil Mickelson won the Buick Invitational of California as well as The International. The following year, in 1994, he won his biggest even to date when he came out on top at the Mercedes Championships. In 1995, he once again conquered the Northern Telecom Open. The second time he won he was actually considered a professional golfer.
In 1996, Phil Mickelson really began bursting onto the scene of professional golf as he won four events. That year he won the Nortel Open, the Phoenix Open, the GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic, and the NEC World Series of Golf. In 1997, he won the Bay Hill Invitational and the Sprint International. 1998 saw Phil once again victorious at the Mercedes Championships as well as at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
In 1999, Phil Mickelson hit his first major slump as a professional when he went the entire year without ever winning a single PGA Tour event. The following year, in 2000, he showed his true desire to play golf as he rebounded by winning four PGA Tour events. He won the Buick Invitational, the BellSouth Classic, the MasterCard Colonial, and the Tour Championship.
Although Phil was earning the respect of the golf world as a very good player, he was struggling with the fact that he had not yet won a major championship. As major tournaments went by without him winning, the media began criticizing Phil's ability to play under pressure. Many began calling him one of the greatest players to never win a major.
Despite the years of harsh criticism from the golf world at his inability to win a major, Phil Mickelson continued to win tournaments and finish at the top of many others. Finally, in 2004, Phil tasted what he had been waiting for his entire golf career when he won The Masters.
With his major championship won, Phil Mickelson could finally relax as the criticism from the golf world began to die down. In 2005, at the PGA Championship, Phil did more than just relax as he won his second major. In 2006, Phil won his third major and his second Masters.
Phil Mickelson's passion for the game has earned him many fans throughout the golf world, and his talent to play the game has earned him over $38 million during his career.
Published by Shane Carney
I am a graduate of USC. I have worked for the USC Sports Information Department, the Los Angeles Avengers, Sports Fan Magazine and Realfootball365. I have been a freelance writer for the Contra Costa Times f... View profile
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- While at Arizona State, he won the U.S. Amateur title in 1990.
- Many began calling him one of the greatest players to never win a major.
- In 2004 Phil tasted what he had been waiting for his entire career when he won The Masters.
