Phil Mickelson Admits He's Nearing Retirement: 'It's Towards The End'

"I'm 53 now and my career, you know, if I'm being truthful, it's towards its end," Mickelson told Bloomberg TV for an upcoming episode of 'Latitude with Haslinda Amin. "Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment that the game of golf has provided me. I'd like them to experience that as well."

Mickelson, who turns 54 on June 16, picked up his most recent major victory at the 2021 PGA Championship in epic fashion, as he became the oldest major champion in golf history at 50 years old.

However, since accomplishing the remarkable feat, 'Lefty' has been in the headlines for many reasons — most having nothing to do with his on-course performances.

Mickelson controversially labeled the Saudis as "scary motherf***ers" despite expressing the desire to conduct business with them in an interview with biographer Alan Shipnuck in October 2022.

Shortly after making those comments, Mickelson was among the first players to depart from the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in the summer of 2022. He reportedly netted $200 million from the Saudi PIF to jump ship.

Then, in August 2023, an excerpt from Billy Walters' book titled "Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk" surfaced that Mickelson lost nearly $100 million in sports gambling. Walters also claimed that Mickelson attempted to wager $400,000 on the United States at the 2012 Ryder Cup, which he was competing in.

While Mickelson surprised everyone with a T2 finish at the Masters in 2023, his play since joining LIV Golf has been largely underwhelming, with only three top-10 finishes in 27 starts for the Saudi-backed circuit. He finished T43 at the Masters in the first major championship of the 2024 campaign.

Mickelson will tee it up this week at LIV Singapore, his final tune-up event before the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky. Funny enough, Mickelson's 54th Birthday occurs the same day as the final round of the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, the last leg of the career grand slam he still needs to check off.

Lefty's 45 career PGA Tour victories rank eighth on the all-time wins list, and his six major wins have him tied with legends Lee Trevino and Nick Faldo for 12th-most in golf history.

Love him or hate him, Mickelson will go down as one of the most notorious and triumphant players men's professional golf has ever seen. Even with his best days on the course likely long gone, he remains one of the sport's most polarizing figures. His influence on the game may be surpassed only by the great Tiger Woods.

For as long as golf goes on, Mickelson's iconic left-handed shot and thumbs-up display to the crowd will be remembered.