A closer look at Phil Mickelson’s close calls at the U.S. Open

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – A closer look at the six runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open by Phil Mickelson, who needs this major to complete the career Grand Slam.

1999

Phil Mickelson hits out of the sand on to the 10th green at Pinehurst No. 2 during the final round of the 1999 U.S. Open Championship. (Stephen Jaffe/Getty Images)

COURSE: Pinehurst No. 2.
SCORES: 67-70-73-70–280.
RESULT: Runner-up, one shot behind Payne Stewart.
KEY MOMENT: Mickelson had a one-shot lead with three to play. Stewart made a 25-foot par putt on the 16th, a 4-foot birdie putt on the 17th and a 15-foot par putt on the 18th. Mickelson missed a 6-foot par putt on the 16th, an 8-foot birdie putt on the 17th and a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th.
NOTEWORTHY: Mickelson played the entire tournament with a pager in his golf bag and said he would withdraw if his wife went into labor with their first child. Amy Mickelson gave birth to a daughter the next day.

2002

Phil Mickelson crosses the 18th green during the final round of the 2002 U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

COURSE: Bethpage Black.
SCORES: 70-73-67-70–280
RESULT: Runner-up, three shots behind Tiger Woods.
KEY MOMENT: Mickelson, five shots behind at the start of the final round, birdied the par-5 13th to get within two shots. Woods answered with a 2-iron onto the 13th green for a two-putt birdie. Moments later, Mickelson’s tee shot on the 16th found the rough and he couldn’t reach the green, making bogey.
NOTEWORTHY: Woods and Mickelson were the only players at par or better.

2004

Spencer Levin talks to runner up Phil Mickelson after the 2004 U. S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. (A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

COURSE: Shinnecock Hills.
SCORES: 68-66-66-71–278
RESULT: Runner-up, two shots behind Retief Goosen.
KEY MOMENT: Tied for the lead on the par-3 17th, Mickelson hit into a bunker. He blasted out to 5 feet above the hole and three-putted for double bogey.
NOTEWORTHY: Goosen one-putted the last six greens.

2006

Phil Mickelson reacts to a missed putt during the final round of the 2006 U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

COURSE: Winged Foot.
SCORES: 70-73-69-74–286.
RESULT: Tied for second, one shot behind Geoff Ogilvy.
KEY MOMENT: With a one-shot lead playing the 18th hole, Mickelson hit a wild slice toward the corporate tent and tried to hit 3-iron around a tree toward the green. It hit the tree and came straight down in the rough. His third shot plugged into a bunker, and his sand shot went through the green. He made double bogey.
NOTEWORTHY: Mickelson was trying to join Tiger Woods as the only players in the last 50 years to win three straight majors.

2009

Phil Mickelson hits his shot during the continuation of the final round of the 2009 U.S. Open Championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park. (Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

COURSE: Bethpage Black
SCORES: 69-70-69-70–278
RESULT: Tied for second, two shots behind Lucas Glover.
KEY MOMENT: After a sensational charge to tie for the lead, Mickelson hit hybrid out of the rough to the collar of the green on the 15th. He left his putt 3 feet short and missed that one for par. On the 17th, he came up short and chipped to 8 feet, missing the par putt.
NOTEWORTHY: Mickelson learned only a month earlier that his wife, Amy, had breast cancer.

2013

Phil Mickelson on the 18th green after putting out during the final round of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion. (Eileen Blass/USA TODAY Sports)

COURSE: Merion Golf Club
SCORES: 67-72-70-74–283.
RESULT: Tied for second, two shots behind Justin Rose.
KEY MOMENT: Mickelson was one shot behind when he hit wedge over the green on the par-3 13th hole and made bogey. Still one shot behind in the 15th fairway, his wedge was so short that he used a wedge to chip from the putting green and made another bogey.
NOTEWORTHY: It was the first time Mickelson had the outright lead (one shot) going into the final round of a U.S. Open.