Phil Mickelson becomes oldest to win a major, hangs on for 2-shot win at PGA Championship

© David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports Phil Mickelson gives a thumbs up from the 2nd hole during the final round of the PGA Championship.

At age 50, Phil Mickelson became the oldest player to win a major, holding on for a two-shot victory in the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island on Sunday. 

With raucous fans rocking the 18th hole, Mickelson withstood a bumpy ride in the final round, finishing with an 1-over 73 to get to 6 under to win the sixth major championship of his career. At 50 years, 11 months and 7 days old, Mickelson broke the record for oldest to win a major that was held by Julius Boros (48 years, 4 months and 18 days when he won the 1968 PGA Championship). 

Louis Oosthuizen and Brooks Koepka tied for second, two shots back at 4 under.

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Fourteen men have now won six or more major championships; Mickelson is now tied with Nick Faldo and Lee Trevino with six each.

Entering the final round with a one-shot lead over Koepka, Mickelson made bogey after driving in the rough on the opening hole while Koepka holed a 13-foot putt for birdie. Mickelson took the lead right back on the par-5 second hole with a birdie, while Koepka made a double bogey. 

It’s Mickelson’s first victory since winning the 2019 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It has been nearly eight years since he won his last major, the 2013 British Open, in which Mickelson shot a final-round 66 to win by three at Muirfield. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Phil Mickelson becomes oldest to win a major, hangs on for 2-shot win at PGA Championship