Phil Mickelson staged a moment many fans won’t soon forget at LIV Golf Virginia on Sunday. The 54-year-old found himself deep in the rough above a greenside bunker while facing the par‑4 17th in the final round at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. With his back facing the flag, Mickelson whipped out a high‑lofted wedge, opened it wide, and swung full-on. The ball soared, curved nearly over his shoulder, landed softly near the hole, and dropped in. The gallery erupted in loud cheers in response.
“One of The Greatest Shots I’ve Ever Seen In My Entire Life”
Bryson DeChambeau was left in utter amazement following Mickelson’s shot. The 31-year-old had some glowing things to say about the viral flop shot that sent fans cheering.
“He created some Phil Mickelson magic there,” DeChambeau said afterwards. “Vintage Phil. See him get up on the side he’s just staring at it. He’s like, you know, he could just see his wheel turning. And then he just hit the shot and I got the perfect angle of it. It literally looked like the top of his roof right here. Just came back down, landed perfectly. And I go, oh my gosh, he’s going to make it. And it went into the hole and I was like that’s got to be one of the greatest shots I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
Even @brysondech was stunnned by @philmickelson’s unbelievable flop shot on 17 😮#LIVGolfVirginia @crushers_gc pic.twitter.com/vCDl6fJQ11
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) June 8, 2025
So what does this unbelievable flop shot say about Mickelson’s game and direction?
Flair or Farewell For Mickelson?
Mickelson has always been known for his creativity and short‑game brilliance. But even Mickelson admitted that although it was one of his better shots, it still took him by surprise that it went in. Even at nearly 55 and after over two hours of stoppages due to rain, Mickelson fired a 65 in the final round and tied for fourth at 13 under, just two strokes behind winner Joaquín Niemann. His flair didn’t fade; he still set up high‑risk, high‑reward shots with supreme confidence and hit them when it mattered.
The 54-year-old admitted that he worked on this shot before the event, with the result adding a little sprinkle of magic to end the weekend. But while the moment shined, the broader picture shows a winding chapter. Mickelson hasn’t won since his PGA Championship victory in 2021, when he became the oldest major winner at age 50. Since moving to LIV Golf in 2022, he’s yet to secure a win, and his form at majors has been shaky.
Mickelson has also missed cuts at both the Masters and PGA Championship this season and posted modest finishes on the LIV circuit. With the U.S. Open at Oakmont coming next, he hinted that this could be his final one, suggesting he might ease away from elite competition. So while his viral flop shot was undoubtedly flair, it also felt like farewell—a grand finale gesture by a legend closing in on the end of a storied career.
Main Photo Credit: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
