Phil Mickelson, one off US sports most popular celebrities, might not qualify for the US Open.
The legendary left hander, who’ll be 50 in June, is adamant, however, that he will not accept a special exemption if this happens. He made this clear ahead of this week’s Pebble Beach Pro-am which he’s won five times.
“I won’t accept it. I’m either going to get in the field on my own or I’ll have to try to qualify. I’m not going to take a special exemption,” he insisted during a media conference at Pebble Beach on Wednesday.
Mickelson struggled with his game last season as he headed for eligibility into the US PGA Senior Tour. He missed nine cuts in his 23 starts and accordingly slid down the rankings.
Qualifying for the US Open was never a problem
During his career he has spent 700 weeks among the World’s top 10. For 25 consecutive years he was always in the top 50. Qualifying for the majors was never a problem.
Now that the former World No 2 has slipped down to No 72 in the World Rankings there is a problem. He needs to be in the top 60 to automatically qualify for the US Open in June.
Mickelson has won five major titles, but the US Open is not one of them. In fact, it’s the only one he hasn’t won. He needs it to join the elite few who own the coveted Grand Slam of all four.
In all he’s finished 2nd in 13 Majors, a record five of those in the US Open. Nobody is more deserving of a ‘special exemption’ than this likeable man they affectionately call ‘Lefty’.
He won’t have it, though. Asked why, he said: “I just won’t. They (the PGA) have never been an organisation that likes to give out special exemptions. I don’t want one
“I don‘t want a sympathy spot”
“I think I can get into the tournament. If I do, I’ll deserve to be there. If I don’t, I don’t.
“I don’t want a sympathy spot. If I am good enough to make it and qualify I’ll have earned my spot,” he concluded.
One of the best measures of Michelson’s standing on the PGA Tour right now is how the New Jersey Sports betting industry see him. And they have certainly not written him off as a competitive entity.
He’ s a top five pick for this week’s Pebble Beach battle and is in their top 20 for the US Open.
The going odds on him picking up a sixth Pebble Beach title are +1400 as opposed to the favourite, Patrick Cantley at +350.
The odds on him breaking his duck at the US Open are much higher at +8000. This is as opposed to the favourites Brooks Koepke (+800) and Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and John Rahm (all at +1000).
That Mickelson is on the Bookies list at all – and closer to the top than the bottom – does say something.
There’s backspin, and then there’s this. ????@PhilMickelson… how?#TOURVault pic.twitter.com/KOuIXYl6bo
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 5, 2020