Decided early on to emulate Arnold Palmer … When he was just 24 years old, Mickelson saw the legendary Arnold Palmer, 40 years his senior, at the US Open. As Mickelson’s bio notes, after a hot day that had gotten to Palmer, the legend “spent more than an hour with the media and the volunteers, and Phil saw the enormous effect it had on those people.” From then on, Mickelson decided he would be the same type of person — meeting with the media and taking time to sign autographs, no matter how he does on the course that day. Probably the best golfer not named Tiger Woods … Much like everyone else on the PGA Tour, Mickelson has played in the shadow of Tiger Woods, but he’s been almost as consistently good as Tiger in recent years. Since 2004, the lowest he’s been on the yearly PGA money list ranking is sixth, and in his career, he’s finished second five different times — four of those times when Tiger was number one. And has a big heart … Not only does he let his wife and mother’s doctor caddie for him, but he and his wife have had a foundation since 2004, focusing on helping support various youth and family initiatives. The partnerships include Start Smart (working with San Diego youths) and ExxonMobil (helping third through fifth grade teachers, focusing on math and science experiments).
By the Numbers:
- Since 2006, the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy has instructed nearly 1,500 teachers.
- He’s won 38 PGA events so far, including four Majors — three Masters and one PGA Championship.
- The Start Smart program, featuring a back-to-school shopping spree for needy students in first through fourth grade, has impacted more than 6,500 students since 2005.
- He’s earned just over $58 million on the PGA Tour.
- He and his wife created Birdies for the Brave, which supports the US Armed Forces, where Mickelson will donate $100 for each birdie and $500 for each eagle he makes on the PGA Tour to Homes For Our Troops and Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
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Photo by Sheldon and Marci via Flickr.