15 photos of Phil Mickelson through the years

Phil Mickelson burst onto the pro golf scene in 1992 and has been grabbing headlines ever since. Both for great and extremely not-so-great reasons.

Throughout his 30+ years, the lefty has won 57 tournaments — including six majors —and was ranked as high as the No. 2 golfer in the world back in 2001. His 45 wins on the PGA Tour have him tied for eighth all-time with Walter Hagen and it’ll take some significant changes of circumstance before Mickelson can even think about passing him.

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The 52-year-old was suspended from the PGA indefinitely following his defection to the upstart, Saudi-backed LIV Golf league. Incendiary and cruel comments saw him lose sponsorships on the way out and his defiant attitude has cost him even more support from fans and fellow golfers. His apology didn’t do much to help either cause.

The first three decades of Mickelson’s professional career featured enough highs and lows to last a lifetime and its anyone’s guess where he’ll go from here.

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1/29/96 — Phil Mickelson tees of during final round action of the Phoenix Open. Mickelson won the tounament in a playoff with Justin Leonard. Photo by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY.

U.S. Ryder Cup players Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, center, and Phil Mickelson, who all three won matches Sunday, celebrate the team’s Ryder Cup victory Sunday, Sept. 26, 1999, at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Phil Mickelson, of the United States, plays out of a bunker on the eighth during the first round of the 128th Open Golf Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland, Thursday, July 15, 1999. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Phil Mickelson cheers along with the crowd Sunday, June 16, 2002, after his birdie putt on the eighth hole at the U.S. Open Golf Championship at the Black Course of Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Phil Mickelson rubs his hands together as he walks in the rain after first round play of the 2003 Masters was postponed due to course conditions and approaching rain storms at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Thursday, April 10, 2003. (AP Photo/David Martin)

RECROPPED VERSION–Phil Mickelson celebrates after winning the Masters golf tournament with a nine-under-par at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 11, 2004. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

4/11/2004 – Augusta, Ga. – Masters Tournament — Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters Champion helps Phil Mickelson with his Championship Green Jacket after Mickelson won with a birdie putt on the 18th hole on the final day of the 2004 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Ga. (Photo By: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)

ATLANTA – SEPTEMBER 27: Phil Mickelson (L), winner of THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola poses alongside Tiger Woods, winner of the 2009 FedExCup at East Lake Golf Club on September 27, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

CHASKA, MN – OCTOBER 02: Phil Mickelson of the United States reacts on the 15th green during singles matches of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club on October 2, 2016 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson of the United States gestures as he holds up the Claret Jug trophy after winning the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Sunday July 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

2/1/14 Phil Mickelson tosses footballs into the crowd on the 16th hole during the third round of the Phoenix Waste Management Open at the TPC Scottsdale. Cheryl Evans/The Arizona Republic

Mar 7, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Phil Mickelson lays in the grass while waiting to tee off from the 4th hole in the second round of the WGC – Cadillac Championship golf tournament at TPC Blue Monster at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 03: Phil Mickelson prepares to hit off the eighth tee during the first round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin on October 3, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

US golf player Phil Mickelson attends a press conference ahead of the forthcoming LIV Golf Invitational Series event at The Centurion Club in St Albans, north of London, on June 8, 2022. – Former world number one golfer Dustin Johnson confirmed on Tuesday he has resigned his membership of the US PGA Tour to play in the breakaway LIV Golf Invitational Series. The decision effectively rules the American two-time major winner out of participating in the Ryder Cup, which pits the United States against Europe every two years. Six-time major winner Phil Mickelson confirmed on Monday he had also signed up to play in the inaugural LIV event in a major coup for the organisers. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

TUCSON, ARIZONA – MARCH 19: Captain Phil Mickelson of Hyflyers GC reacts to a missed putt on the 16th green during Day Three of the LIV Golf Invitational – Tucson at The Gallery Golf Club on March 19, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)