Phil Mickelson has four major titles and 41 total championships to his name. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and has appeared in nine Ryder Cups and nine Presidents Cups.
Unfortunately for Mickelson, throughout his decorated career, he has also created a reputation as a perennial runner-up. Since his first major appearance in 1990, Mickelson has eight second-place finishes and seven third-place finishes. His eight runner-ups are tied for third all-time, behind Jack Nicklaus (19) and Arnold Palmer (10).
Perhaps Mickelson's most notable blunders have occurred at the U.S. Open. On Sunday, Mickelson finished in second place for the sixth time at the national championship. Here's a look through the years at Phil's woulda, coulda, shoulda moments on Father's Day.
Bridesmaid Blues: A Review Of Phil Mickelson's Second-Place Finishes At The U.S. Open Slideshow
1999, Pinehurst
Mickelson had a share of the lead after rounds one and two, finishing at three-under both days. A third-round 73 put Lefty at even, one stroke behind leader Payne Stewart. Stewart and Mickelson both shot even rounds of 70 in the fourth round's final group. Stewart drained a 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole to cap off the one-shot victory.
2002, Bethpage
New York fell in love with the San Diego-bred Mickelson, who was coming off of a runner-up finish at The Masters. Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia took a heavyweight battle deep into Sunday. Phil shot a final round 70 to finish with one of the low rounds of the day and come in at even. However, Woods held firm at three-under to hold on for a three-stroke victory.
2004, Shinnecock Hills
Mickelson, the 2004 Masters champion, opened the weekend as the leader at six-under. A third round 73 dropped Lefty to three-under, two strokes behind leader Retief Goosen. Down the stretch on Father's Day, Mickelson reclaimed the lead by a stroke with birdies on holes 15 and 16 behind the New York crowd. He proceeded to double bogey the par-3 17th hole (three-putting from five feet), to finish two shots behind Goosen.
2006, Winged Foot
Again feeding off his adopted New York fan base, Mickelson shared the lead at two-over Saturday night. After 17 holes, Phil led the tournament by a stroke. A par separated Mickelson from his third consecutive major and a case for the number one player in the world. Lefty bounced his tee shot off of a tent before hitting a tree on his second shot. His third swing landed in a greenside bunker with a fried egg lie, and his bunker shot skimmed through the green. Mickelson missed the bogey chip to hand Geoff Ogilvy the title at five-over. "I just can't believe I did that," Mickelson said after the round.
2009, Bethpage
Leading up to the U.S. Open, Mickelson announced he would take time off after the event to be with his wife, Amy, who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Down six strokes entering the fourth round, Mickelson, who heard chants of "Let's go, Mickelson!" all day, stormed to the front of the pack. An eagle on hole 13 gave him a share of the lead with Lucas Glover. Mickelson then bogeyed holes 15 and 17, as Glover took the tournament by two strokes.
2013, Merion
In his latest national championship folly, Mickelson held at least a share of the lead after all three of the first three rounds. On Sunday, also his 43th birthday, Phil double-bogeyed holes 3 and 5 to drop out of the lead. An eagle on No. 10 brought back hope, as Mickelson slid into sole possession of first place. Bogeys on 13 and 15 dropped Lefty back behind Justin Rose. On the 18th hole, Mickelson narrowly missed a 60-yard pitch for a tie, giving Rose the championship.
