Phil Mickelson Makes Surprise Masters Cut At Age 55

Phil Mickelson Makes Surprise Masters Cut At Age 55...

Phil Mickelson defied expectations Friday by making the cut at the 2026 Masters Tournament at age 55. The six-time major champion shot a second-round 71 at Augusta National to finish at 1-over par, securing his weekend play in golf's most prestigious event.

The performance marks Mickelson's first Masters cut since 2021 and comes five years after his historic 2021 PGA Championship win made him the oldest major champion ever. Golf fans erupted on social media as "Lefty" birdied three of his final seven holes Friday afternoon to secure his spot.

Mickelson's resurgence comes after a turbulent period that included his controversial move to LIV Golf in 2022. The California native received warm applause from Augusta patrons throughout his round, signaling a potential reconciliation with traditional golf fans.

"To compete here at my age means everything," Mickelson told ESPN after his round. "Augusta always brings out my best." The three-time Masters champion now sits eight shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler entering Saturday's third round.

Mickelson's performance is particularly notable given recent struggles on the LIV Golf circuit, where he hasn't recorded a top-10 finish since October. His last PGA Tour victory came at the 2021 PGA Championship when he was 50.

Tournament officials confirmed Mickelson becomes the oldest player to make the Masters cut since Bernhard Langer in 2020. The achievement sparks renewed discussion about age limits in professional golf following recent rule changes by both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

Saturday's third-round pairing will see Mickelson tee off at 12:45 PM ET with rising star Cameron Young. Television ratings are expected to surge for the weekend coverage as casual fans tune in to watch the golf legend's unlikely comeback story unfold at Augusta.