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Phil Mickelson after winning the PGA Championship
Photo:
David J. Phillip / AP
Phil Mickelson made golf history.
With his triumph at the 103rd PGA Championship in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, the 50-year-old veteran from California is now the oldest winner of a major tournament.
On Sunday (local time) Mickelson replaced the American Julius Boros, who was 48 years old when he won the PGA Championship in 1968, as the record holder.
“It's an unbelievable feeling,” said Mickelson: “I believed it was possible, even though everything spoke against it.
I hope this is an inspiration to others.
You have to work on your abilities, but by God: it's worth it. "
His biggest rival over the years, Tiger Woods, immediately congratulated him on Twitter: “Really inspiring to see @PhilMickelson did it again at the age of 50.
Congratulations !!!!!!! «, wrote the superstar, who was unable to take part in the PGA Championship due to the consequences of a car accident.
Mickelson's last major win had been eight years
Mickelson played a round of 73 on the difficult par-72 course on the Atlantic coast on the final day and won with a total of 282 strokes in front of the two-time PGA champion and two-time US Open winner Brooks Koepka from the USA and the South African Louis Oosthuizen (both 284 strokes).
Mickelson was enthusiastically celebrated by the 10,000 fans who were allowed to visit the facility after the Corona easing.
"I don't think I've ever had such an experience, thanks for that," said Mickelson as he accepted the Wanamaker trophy. "A bit nerve-wracking, but above all awesome." His last major win was eight years ago.
For the US star, it is the sixth success in a major tournament.
He won the Masters three times (2004, 2006, 2010), the British Open (2013) and twice the PGA Championship (2005, 2021).
It is also his 45th victory on the US tour, for which he received a good two million dollars (1.64 million euros) in prize money and the Wanamaker Trophy.
Germany's top golfer Martin Kaymer failed after two rounds at the cut in the tournament, which was endowed with around twelve million US dollars (9.85 million euros), and was eliminated early.
In 2010 the golf professional from Mettmann won his first of two major titles at the PGA Championship.
ara / dpa / sid