Despite a stunning weight loss recently, there was a time when Phil Mickelson was famous, or rather infamous, for his binge-eating. In the early part of his career, as he steadily gained weight, the legendary golfer found himself at the receiving end of ridicule and fat-shaming. His eating habits had impacted his game. Golf writer Alan Shipnuck had made indecent comments about Mickelson’s weight gain that saw a decades-long falling out between the two.

In his book, titled ‘PHIL, The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar‘, Shipnuck elaborated on how Mickelson’s voracious eating habits once shocked fellow golfer and commentator Gary McCord.

Phil Mickelson, an astonishing eater

Shipnuck called Mickelson “a legendary chowhound” in his book. And he didn’t stop there. [TRIGGER ALERT] “In the player dining tent at a long-ago PGA Championship, Mickelson hit the dessert buffet with such a vengeance that one fellow competitor reported, ‘He appears to be trying to commit suicide by chocolate éclair’,” Shipnuck wrote in his book.

The controversial writer went on: “Gary McCord loves to tell the story of a young Mickelson, while en route to the course for a casual game, calling to offer to pick up Taco Bell for the rest of the foursome. They instructed him to order a dozen tacos.”

“When Mickelson arrived at the course, the huge bag was full of discarded wrappers. McCord dug around and found three remaining tacos at the bottom; Mickelson had eaten the other nine. ‘It was maybe a ten-minute drive,” McCord says. ‘He averaged a taco a minute’,” Alan wrote.

That was then. Two decades later, things have changed drastically. Mickelson, at 53, is fitter, healthier and stronger. A diet regimen, intermittent fasting to be precise, has worked wonders for him. The six-time Major winner has lost almost 40 pounds over the past four-odd years.

Stunning turnaround

In 2019, Mickelson revealed on Instagram that a cycle of intermittent fasting, drinking only water and a special blend of his own coffee had helped him lose at least 15 pounds. At this year’s Masters, he appeared another 25 pounds slimmer, achieved via another cycle of intermittent fasting.

Read more: “Astonishing Eater:” Despite Being 25lbs Slimmer, Phil Mickelson’s Grand Platter Once Prompted a Ryder Cup Legend to Make a Bizzare Tiger Woods Comparison

But the whole thing was not so straightforward. Intermittent fasting was helping Mickelson lose fat, but he was also losing muscle mass that negatively impacted his performance. So, the golfer had to change his training method. Speed-training and lifting weights were included in his training schedule. He got back the wind beneath his swings, so to speak.

In 2021, at 51 years of age, Mickelson became the oldest Major champion, when he won the PGA Championship. It shows the determination of the golfer to continue to giving his best.

Watch this story: How Did Phil Mickelson Lose Weight? All About His Journey From Looking ‘Pregnant’ to Being the Most Envied 53YO Pro Golfer