Phil MickelsonA momentary drive to Kiawah Island in May 2021. He reached the age of 50 years, 11 months, and 7 days, lifted the PGA Championship trophy, becoming the oldest player to win a major championship. But just a year later, he left his career on the PGA Tour and joined LIV Golf.
Now, Mickelson’s place in golf history is in the spotlight. On the podcast The fourth workCooper Manning recently discussed Mickelson’s legacy with Brandel Chamblee, advising Chamblee to consider how Mickelson’s influence might eventually compare to that of Arnold Palmer. His comments offered a broader perspective on Mickelson’s career—not just as a major leaguer, but as a figure whose impact could extend beyond his career accomplishments.
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“I don’t always know. I think, I think, I live in a forgiving world enough, Cooper. He’s fighting his demons, obviously, and I don’t want anyone but not alone in fighting his demons. I think if it wasn’t for LIV, everything in the golf world, he would have been honored by Arnold Palmer. He would have been the lead analyst on CBS,” Chamblee said.
Chamblee’s claim is ultimately hypothetical and proven, but the career numbers help explain why Palmer’s name comes up when discussing Mickelson’s legacy. Palmer finished his career with 62 PGA Tour victories and seven major championships, while Mickelson has 45 Tour wins and six majors. Palmer won all seven of his majors between 1958 and 1964, while Mickelson won six over a 17-year span from 2004 to 2021.
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Ryder Cup records provide another point of comparison. Mickelson has played in a US-record 12 Ryder Cups, compiling a record of 18-22-7, while Palmer has made six appearances and is 22-8-2. Palmer also played as captain of the US team in 1963 and returned as captain in 1975, a captain’s role that Mickelson never held. Taken together, those numbers provide context for Chamblee’s comparison, while also shaping the two players’ careers and play in different ways.
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The resume of the Palms also extends beyond major victories and defenses, with milestones that have helped define a broader impact on golf. He was the first PGA Tour player to surpass $1 million in career earnings, and in 2007 he became an honorary Commencement Master, a role that sees him take a ceremonial tee shot.
Meanwhile, Mickelson’s case is based more on total length and consistency. He has 29 top-five finishes in major championships and holds the record for most bike finishes at the US Open with six. These skills add another dimension to the comparison, the extent to which Mickelson’s sustained presence in contention for a major championship has contributed to his place in golf history.
Chamblee’s praise comes from years of close watch over Mickelson. “I started making comments in 2004, and from 2004 until Phil left, he used to say Phil’s gift of golf. Talent, showmanship, and “look at me” quality, it was incredible. What talent. What a wonderful talent.”
Chamblee is also remembered for playing four rounds with Phil Mickelson at the BC Open. They also rode to the facility every day. During those trips, Mickelson argued that golf should focus on its biggest stars. He believed that the tour only needed around 20 to 30 players because the fans wanted to watch most of the 10 or 15 15 players.
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Chamblee joked that Mickelson never seemed to realize this idea that Chamblee could lose his job. 55 unofficial World Golf events have awarded the Frogs points in the first four seasons. Mickelson’s runner-up goal at the 2023 Masters helped him move from No. 425 to No. 72 would not move to any part of the world.
but the order soon fell again. He lost a cut in five of the last eight majors and fell to No. 1,025 as of April 2025, the lowest ranking of his career. The results of his Livy are also mixed. He finished 39th out of 52 players in the 2023 season and 46th out of 57 in 2024, with only one top 10 finish in the year. He had a better start to 2025, finishing third in Hong Kong and sixth in Miami.
In 2026, Phil Mickelson retired from golf. LIV played just one event, in South Africa in March, where he finished tied for 48th. He also lost all four majors for the first time in his professional career. Only 50 players began receiving official World Golf Ranking points for top 10 finishes in 2026, so Mickelson did not earn any points from his South African event.
Mickelson won’t be the only one to pay back. LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September after the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund withdrew its support. LIV intends to resume play in 2027 under new ownership, subject to trials. A PGA Tour executive told Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch that the odds of playing the current LIV on the PGA Tour in 2027 are “remote.”
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Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner, tied for the second PGA Championship this year and led the points and money lists with 55. He still had to pay outstanding DP World Tour money to gain Ryder Cup eligibility in 2027. Bryson DeChambeau, also a two-year-old winner, has a contract that expires after 2026 and has not announced his plans. Bankruptcy documents show an undisclosed $5,769,230.77 claim from DeChambeau and his corporation, BAD Enterprises, tied to the player’s agreement.
For Rahm and DeChambeau, the bigger problem is access, not current form. Lynch said the players returning to the PGA Tour need to show some humility, giving up 50% equity and possibly making donations. He pointed to Brooks Koepka, who reportedly donated $5 million. Chamblee believes Mickelson can still find a way back. Mickelson said he needs to admit his mistakes, take care of the damage he did, and show that he wants to give something back to the game that gave him so much. Chamblee believes the golf world could then welcome him back.
That question of delegation is even more relevant as Mickelson’s life enters another period of uncertainty. He has yet to decide whether to stay with LIV Golf in 2027, as LIV also sought bankruptcy court to terminate player contracts, including Mickelson’s. The next movement is still unresolved, the last chapter of his life remains unwritten, and in whatever way he chooses, he will play an important role in shaping the overall legacy.
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