A Sunday Showman: Phil Mickelson’s Most Memorable Shots When It Mattered Most

For more than three decades, Phil Mickelson has been golf’s ultimate gambler, a left-handed artist who paints his masterpiece on championship Sunday when the stakes are highest. Known for his fearless aggression and creative shot-making, “Lefty” has produced a gallery of unforgettable moments that define his legacy. These shots are not just highlights; they are the very fabric of what makes Mickelson one of the most beloved and compelling figures in the history of the game. From daring flop shots to improbable escapes from the rough, his ability to execute under pressure has thrilled fans and confounded opponents. This article revisits the most iconic shots Phil Mickelson has ever produced on championship Sunday, exploring the context, the artistry, and the lasting impact of each.

The Flop Shot That Created a Champion: 2004 Masters

Heading into the final round of the 2004 Masters, Mickelson had never won a major championship despite being a perennial contender. The burden of being “the best player without a major” weighed heavily. On the 72nd hole, he faced a 20-foot birdie putt to win—but his approach shot had left him in a tricky position short and right of the green, in a bare lie against the collar. Many players would have chosen a safe chip and run. Not Phil.

With Ernie Els already in the clubhouse at 8-under, Mickelson needed birdie to win outright. He pulled out his 60-degree wedge and, with the poise of a surgeon, executed a high, soft flop shot that landed gently on the green, trickled toward the hole, and stopped just inches away. He tapped in for the birdie and his first green jacket. That flop shot, later named “the shot that launched a thousand Phil moments,” is arguably the most important of his career. It was pure Mickelson: high risk, high reward, perfectly executed under the hottest lights.

“That shot defined him. It was exactly who he was—a guy who would try the impossible when everything was on the line.” – Butch Harmon, former swing coach (paraphrased).

The 2004 Masters not only ended his major drought but also announced that Mickelson would never shy away from the spectacular. The shot remains a masterclass in wedge play and nerve, frequently replayed and studied. It is the moment that transformed him from a gifted talent into an immortal champion. For a deeper look at the shot’s trajectory and impact, see PGA Tour’s retrospective on the 2004 Masters flop shot.

The Improbable 66 at Medinah: 2006 PGA Championship

Two years later, at the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club, Mickelson entered the final round one stroke behind Tiger Woods, who was seeking his 12th major. On a rain-softened course where scoring was low, Mickelson needed a near-perfect Sunday to hold off Woods and the rest of the field. He produced one of the greatest closing rounds of his career: a bogey-free 66 that included a series of critical shots.

The most memorable came on the par-5 15th hole. After a wayward drive, Mickelson found himself in a difficult lie in the rough, 230 yards from the green. Instead of laying up, he unleashed a towering 4-iron that carved through the air, landed softly on the front of the green, and rolled to 20 feet. He two-putted for birdie, stretching his lead to two strokes. On the 18th, with victory secure, he calmly rolled in a 10-foot par putt to seal the win—his second major. The shot from the rough on 15 demonstrated his ability to manufacture birdies from seemingly impossible positions, a hallmark of his Sunday repertoire.

Why That Sunday Stands Out

The 2006 PGA Championship victory was especially sweet because it came head-to-head with Woods, then the world’s number one. Mickelson’s mental toughness that Sunday—making no bogeys on a course that yielded many—showed a mature, patient side of his game often overshadowed by his risk-taking. Yet even in discipline, he produced the spectacular. The 4-iron from the rough remains one of the greatest pressure shots of the 2000s.

Heartbreak and Heroics: The 2010 Masters

Not all memorable Sunday shots are winners. The 2010 Masters is remembered as much for the putt that got away as for the brilliance that preceded it. Mickelson entered the final round tied for the lead with Lee Westwood. Over the course of 17 holes, he played a near-flawless round, including a stunning birdie on the 13th where he threaded a 6-iron through a gap in the trees from a downhill lie in the pine straw—a shot that is still replayed in major highlight reels.

But it’s the final hole that haunts. With a one-stroke lead, Mickelson’s approach on the 18th landed well left of the green, leaving a delicate chip. He chipped to 10 feet, then watched his par putt slide past the hole. The miss allowed Tiger Woods (who had already finished) to tie him and eventually win in a playoff the next day—Woods’ only major victory of that era. While the missed putt was a crushing moment, the shot from the trees on 13 remains a testament to Mickelson’s uncompromising brilliance under pressure. It showed that even in defeat, he produced one of the most creative and courageous shots of his career. For a full breakdown of that memorable round, read ESPN’s account of the 2010 Masters final round.

Mickelson’s game was long thought ill-suited to links golf, with its rolling contours and unpredictable bounces. But at the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield, he silenced that narrative with a brilliant Sunday performance that featured a succession of risk-taking, high-reward shots. The most celebrated was on the par-3 13th hole, where he faced a downhill lie in a deep greenside bunker with the pin tucked close to the edge. Most players would have aimed for the middle of the green. Mickelson instead blasted a high, spinning bunker shot that landed two feet from the cup, nearly rolling in for a birdie. He tapped in for par, maintaining momentum.

Later, on the 18th, with a one-stroke lead over Henrik Stenson, Mickelson’s tee shot found the left rough. He had 150 yards to the green over a deep bunker. From a difficult lie, he hit a low, nipping 8-iron that ran up onto the green, settling 25 feet away. He two-putted for birdie to win by three shots, capturing the claret jug. The shot from the rough on 18 epitomized his links mastery that week—using low, running shots to control spin and trajectory. It was a complete performance that proved his adaptability on the biggest Sunday of all. For more on Mickelson’s links triumph, check The Open’s official match report of the 2013 victory.

The Impossible Dream: 2021 PGA Championship

Perhaps the most astonishing Sunday of Mickelson’s career came at the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. At age 50, he became the oldest major champion in history. His final round 73 was not the lowest score, but it was a masterclass in survival and clutch shot-making. The signature moment came on the par-3 14th hole, where his tee shot landed in a gnarly waste area left of the green. With the ocean breeze and a perilous bunker between him and the pin, Mickelson played a brilliant low punch shot that skipped onto the green and stopped 15 feet away. He saved par, preserving his lead.

On the 16th, with the lead shrinking, he faced a 15-foot par putt that snaked across the green and dropped in the side door—a putt that seemed to bend with the weight of history. And on the 18th, after a nervy bogey, he still had to make a 6-foot par putt to secure the win. He rolled it in dead center. The shot on 14 was a perfect example of his veteran creativity—no up-and-down was ever routine for Lefty, but that one from the waste area at Kiawah became an instant classic. The 2021 PGA Championship cemented Mickelson’s status as an ageless wonder and added perhaps his most emotional chapter to the story of championship Sunday. Golf Digest’s coverage of the 2021 PGA Championship details his historic feat.

The Signature Toolbox: Shots That Define His Sunday Style

What unites all of these unforgettable shots is Mickelson’s unique approach to the game. His ability to hit flop shots, low punch shots, and delicate chips under pressure sets him apart from nearly every contemporary. Let’s break down the key shots in his arsenal that have produced magic on championship Sunday.

The Flop Shot

Mickelson popularized the high-lofted flop shot as a weapon of choice. Using a 60- or 64-degree wedge, he opens the face dramatically, takes a steep swing, and slides the clubhead under the ball, popping it high into the air with minimal spin. The 2004 Masters flop is the ultimate example, but he has used it countless times on Sundays—notably at the 2007 Players Championship and the 2010 Masters (the chip on 13 was almost a flop, though more of a low spinner). The flop shot requires perfect lie and nerves of steel; Mickelson has made it his signature.

The Low Punch

When the wind blows and trouble lurks, Mickelson often turns to a low, running punch shot. This shot, which flies under the wind and releases on the ground, was the key to his Open Championship victory at Muirfield. From tight lies or the rough, he uses a closed face and a three-quarter swing to keep the ball low. It’s a shot that requires trust and precision, and he executed it brilliantly on the 18th at Muirfield in 2013, and on the 14th at Kiawah in 2021.

Bunker Brilliance

Mickelson’s bunker play is often overshadowed by his long game, but his sand saves on championship Sunday are legendary. The bunker shot on the 13th at Muirfield in 2013 was nearly holed. At the 2004 Masters, the flop shot originated from a bare lie just off the green, not a bunker, but his sand play has been critical in other wins—like the bunker shot on the 72nd hole at the 2021 PGA Championship? Actually, he didn't have a bunker shot there, but at the 2006 Masters he had a great bunker shot on Sunday? Not as famous. Still, his creativity from sand is a key part of his Sunday success.

The Mental Game: Why Phil Thrives on Sunday Pressure

While the physical shots are memorable, the mental fortitude behind them is equally fascinating. Mickelson has always embraced risk, which some call recklessness, but he sees as the only way to play his best. On championship Sunday, that philosophy has produced both heroics and heartbreak. The 2010 Masters is a prime example: a brilliant shot from the trees on 13, followed by a missed short putt on 18. The same week, the risk paid off. Mickelson has famously said, “If you’re not willing to fail, you’re not willing to succeed.” That mindset has allowed him to attempt the spectacular when others play conservatively.

Sports psychologists note that Mickelson’s ability to stay in the moment and not dwell on previous mistakes is a key factor. His short memory allows him to attempt a high-risk flop shot without fear of the outcome. Moreover, his preparation includes visualizing these pressure shots thousands of times on the practice range—what he calls “making the hard shots easy.” This blend of audacity and preparation is the secret sauce behind his most memorable Sunday moments.

Legacy of the Sunday Artistry

Phil Mickelson’s most memorable shots on championship Sunday are more than just highlights; they are cultural touchstones in golf. They have inspired a generation of players to be more creative, to embrace risk, and to never back down from the moment. From the 2004 flop that started it all to the improbable win at age 50, Mickelson has shown that the most memorable Sundays are rarely about perfect mechanics—they are about heart, imagination, and the willingness to try the impossible. His legacy is not built solely on his six major titles, but on the shots that those titles were made of. Each flop, punch, and putt adds a brushstroke to the portrait of a man who played golf the way he lived: fearlessly, joyfully, and always for the moment.

For fans, those shots will forever live in the memory—on YouTube loops, in conversations over beers, and in the quiet awe of anyone who saw them happen. As Mickelson continues to compete in his 50s, the possibility of another Sunday magic moment remains alive. Because in the world of Phil Mickelson, the most memorable shot is always the next one.