Oakmont Phil Mickelson’s final U.S. Open is it? Our writers tweet

After every round of the 2025 U.S. Open, please post unfiltered comments as our writers and editors break the title’s hottest topics and join the conversation by tweeting @golf_com on Twitter.

Two of Phil Mickelson’s last four holes missed a stroke U.S. Open, which is probably his appearance in the only major championship he hasn’t won yet. Although he is still eligible to participate in the future of the United States, or receive a special waiver from the USGA, do you think this will be his last one?

Josh Schrock, Associate Editor (@schrock_and_awe): This is indeed a toss. USGA has previously offered waivers, and they gave Phil a waiver for the 2021 U.S. Open as he won the PGA at Kiawah so he ended up not using it. Wondering to see Phil play the last U.S. Open at Shinnecock, he finished second in 2004 and was run by hockey in 2018? certainly. But there may be something about Phil. First, Mickelson and USGA have been running for years. There is no warm ambiguity in the relationship from calling Mike Davis in Merion to Mike Whan’s decision to make Talor Gooch’s unqualified AD-K move decision. Since the 2023 Masters T2, Phil has not been a factor in the big championships. For this, he didn’t do much to Liv either. Then, there is the LIV factor and Mickelson’s role in breaking the game. All of this makes me think USGA won’t run completely and can give him free tickets to Shinnecock. But I do think whether Mickelson hasn’t qualified for him through Liv’s waiver or Open or next year’s Masters. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was around, but I wouldn’t expect it either.

Josh Sens, Senior Writer (@Joshsens): I don’t think we’ve seen his last in this event, although the traditional USGA waiver seems to be more bizarre than a brand that captures fires in Prothush or Augusta, or powers itself through qualifying in the right-handed right-handed game. Expected surprise.

Senior writer Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier): I have no idea. But I do know that this is a dramatic approach. On Friday, I stood next to the 18th green and Phil almost shot his approach shot into the hole. Then, as he waited to hit the birdie putt he needed to do, lightning flashed behind him. Thunder thunder flourished. His putter slipped into the hole. It’s time to see if this is the end of a storm relationship.

Josh Berhow, executive editor (@Josh_Berhow): I don’t think he’s done yet, but as Schrock points out, it’s his messy, complicated relationship with USGA, which is exactly why the topic is so juicy and unpredictable. I won’t rule out Phil trying to qualify in the future (he will have a nice chance to pass), but I tend to end up giving him a final release. This would be a great way for him to go out.

Sean Zak, Senior Editor (@sean_zak): No, this is not Phil’s final. I saw his future to win the U.S. Senior Open and the waiver that followed. Otherwise, that might be it.

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