Phil Mickelson says ‘epiphany’ sparked new outlook ahead of The Open: ‘I have finally…’

Mickelson knows what it takes to navigate a links course, and few in the field can match his depth of experience. Speaking recently with Grant Horvat on YouTube, he said:

“I do have some good news for you. I have had an epiphany with my short game. The week before the DC Virginia it just totally flipped. After I did that I went a shot a short game video because it forced me to rethink about all the things I am doing because I never had to think about it.

“I have been struggling with short game for a while, but I have finally started to understand because I started asking questions, made the change and it’s been great.

“I am able to use a 64 now. Because my technique was off it wasn’t an asset, it was a liability.“

Mickelson’s wedge game was once among the best in golf, and Open conditions are often dictated by the player who can manoeuvre chips and pitches close to the hole.

If his confidence is justified, don’t be shocked to see his name hovering near the leaderboard on the weekend at Royal Portrush.

He still has to prove he can do it under major championship pressure, but if he’s right, expect plenty of fans to get behind one more run at a major title.

R&A’s request kept Mickelson out of 2022 Open Champions Dinner, but times have changed

The last time The Open visited Northern Ireland, golf’s biggest storyline was the rise of LIV and the ripple effect it had across the sport. Mickelson later shared that the R&A recommended he skip the 2022 champions dinner at St Andrews – partly to avoid a media circus. At the time, Mickelson said:

“The R&A contacted me a couple weeks before and said, ‘Look, we don’t think it’s a great idea you go, but if you want to, you can.’ I just didn’t want to make a big deal about it, so I said fine. We both kind of agreed that it would be best if I didn’t.”

That era felt different. The tension between LIV and the PGA Tour has eased since then, and Mickelson – as a past champion – now seems more likely to be involved in everything surrounding The Open.

He’s a legend of the sport, in any case. And after a 2025 season showing more promise than recent years, he’s heading to Portrush with a sense of optimism – and a game that, remarkably, might still surprise us.