KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — He did it. Phil Mickelson made golf history.
The San Diegan won the PGA Championship on Sunday at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island Golf Resort to become the first player to win a major championship in his 50s.
Mickelson collected his sixth major, joining Nick Faldo and Lee Trevino, with a 1-over 73 to beat Louie Oosthuizen (73) and Brooks Koepka (74) by two shots.
The closest any player had come to surpassing the age barrier many considered all but impossible came in 1968, when Julius Boros won the PGA.
Mickelson began the final round at 7 under, with a one-stroke lead over two-time PGA champ Brooks Koepka. A birdie by Koepka and bogey from Mickelson on No. 1 immediately swapped their positions — beginning a wild stretch of play.
The man who last won a major in 2013 at the British Open carded just one par across his first seven holes. Mickelson birdied No. 2, bogeyed 3, birdied 5, bogeyed 6 and birdied 7.
Koepka, 19 years Mickelson’s junior, experienced stunning ups and downs as well, following his opening birdie with a double bogey on No. 2. The defining moment on the front nine came at No. 5, when he landed squarely on the green and Mickelson found himself in a greenside bunker.
The 50-year-old, 155th in sand saves on Tour, flipped the script and momentum by holing the shot to thunderous applause.
Koepka remained a stroke back at the turn, before stumbling to a bogey on 10 as Mickelson dug out a birdie to cushion the advantage. Mickelson posted back-to-back pars as the field drifted to five back as he played No. 13.
Six players 50 or older held at least a share of the lead heading into the final round — Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Sandy Herd, Harry Vardon and Boros. Only Mickelson reached the historic finish line.
