Throughout his remarkable career, Phil Mickelson has used the PGA Championship as his showcase event. Lefty has won the Wanamaker Trophy twice, once in 2005 and again at Kiawah Island in 2021, when he was fifty. His 2021 victory made him the oldest major winner, an accolade he holds dearly. With two wins and a few top-3 performances, the PGA Championship has been Mickelson’s most successful major, but now it seems that Lefty’s glorious days are gone.

Phil Mickelson had a rough start at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. He was far off the pace after his opening round of 3-over 74. He showed minor improvement on Friday as he shot par, but it was too late. After the first round, the cutline was projected at par, and as of the second round (suspended right now due to darkness), the cutline is expected to be 1 under par. Hence, the golfer has missed the cutline by three strokes.

For the 53-year-old, this was just his fifth missed cut in the PGA Championship. Mickelson’s tie for 116th place this year was his worst performance at the PGA Championship since missing the cut in 2019. Despite the disastrous run, his fans will surely hold his previous wins high and hope he returns with more power in 2025 at Quail Hollow Club. But is Mickelson even eligible to play in the 107th edition of the tournament? Well, obviously he is!

Thanks to his 2005 and 2021 wins, Lefty is eligible to compete for the illustrious Wanamaker trophy for a lifetime. All the previous winners of the championship earn a lifetime exemption, just like the Masters. Hence, his forgetful 2024 PGA Championship performance will not affect his status in 2025. Although he does not have to worry about playing in the PGA Championship or Masters for the rest of his life, he has one major tournament in particular to worry about.

Phil Mickelson’s exemption for the US Open is about to expire

After 2026, his exemption from the highly coveted US Open will expire. He is eligible to play at the event because of the 5-year grace he got after his 2021 win. In his 49 starts at the tournament, he has had a record six T-2 finishes. The US Open is the only battle the golfer has been unable to conquer. To try his chances, he needs to qualify after 2026.

Before 2027, Mickelson might still be able to obtain a U.S. Open exemption, just like Tiger Woods did for this year’s tournament. He needs a decisive victory in a major tournament because, as a LIV golfer and with such average performances at the majors (T43 at the 2024 Masters and MC at the 2024 PGA Championship), chances are very low of him receiving a special invite. If Mickelson can write any more significant magic, fans will be watching. The PGA Championship is still Lefty’s haven for the time being.