Phil Mickelson made history over the weekend at the PGA Championship in South Carolina to become the oldest ever winner at a major golf tournament at 50 years of age.
Mickelson finished a tournament best -6, just two shots under four time major winner Brooks Koepka in an exhilarating final round.
It marked 16 years since Mickelson had last won at the PGA Championship, and eight years since his last major win at the 2013 British Open.
Mickelson always held belief that he could win another major, even against the steep odds at his age.
"I just believed that it was possible but yet everything was saying it wasn't," Mickelson said to the media following his win.
Although I believed it was possible, I canโt believe this happened ๐ pic.twitter.com/lysjjrPqyb
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) May 24, 2021
Whilst it would be hard to top the amazing triumph of Tiger Woods' 2019 Masters win and 2018 Tour Championship win, Mickelson's triumph had a special aura about it, due to his high level performance at his age.
The oldest to win a major golf tournament before Mickelson's triumph was Julius Boros, who won the 1968 PGA Championship at 48 years of age.
Mickelson hopes that other competitors around his age or older can still find inspiration to work hard to achieve results like he did over the weekend.
"I hope that others find that inspiration. It might take a little extra work, a little bit harder effort to maintain physically or maintain the skills, but gosh, is it worth it in the end," Mickelson said.
The final round was filled with exciting action, highlighted by a bunker chip-in from Mickelson on hole 5 to send the crowd into a frenzy.
From all the angles. ๐คฉpic.twitter.com/rO8oQxZctF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 23, 2021
Mickelson was able to hold a two-shot lead heading into the 18th hole against Koepka, with wild scenes ensuing with thousands of fans able to walk down the fairway right around and with Mickelson and Koepka.
The PGA have since come out and apologised to Mickelson and Koepka for the wild crowd scenes which left both players mobbed by fans and security.
"It was unnerving but incredible," Mickelson regarded the incident walking down the fairway on the 18th.
Mickelson amongst the madness. ๐ณ
A dart from the wild gallery at Kiawah.#PGAChamppic.twitter.com/ZDXCZ7IAfc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 23, 2021
Images of the thousands of fans surrounding the green were historic, as crowds haven't been this big since the COVID pandemic began.
Every fan held their phone out to witness history as Mickelson held par to win the PGA Championship, and become the oldest to ever win a major.
Win No. 45. ๐pic.twitter.com/XiHcYMYyht
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 23, 2021