Phil Mickelson’s proper place among golf's all-time greats

With his recent PGA Championship, Mickelson pushes his way into consideration for at least 1 list of top 15 golfers in history

With Phil Mickelson’s thrilling victory at the PGA Championship, I can’t help but start thinking about where he now ranks among the game’s greatest (“Thrill of a lifetime: Phil Mickelson prevails at PGA,” May 24).

Has he cracked the top 10? Here’s my take:

Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Sam Snead are considered top five.

Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Byron Nelson, Walter Hagen and Tom Watson are my next five.

Mickelson has entered the discussion in the next five, which would include Harry Vardon, Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo, Gene Sarazen and Seve Ballesteros.

I have Mickelson knocking on the door for top 15 in golf history, but top 10 might be out of reach. But, hey, he might not be done, and if he ever gets that elusive U.S. Open, that might break down that door for him.

Frank Blauch
Lebanon, Pa.

Mickelson wins after eliminating loop in swing
I have been playing and following golf for a long time and have noticed in recent years that Phil Mickelson had developed a loop in his swing for most if not all shots of more than 50 yards (“Thrill of a lifetime: Phil Mickelson prevails at PGA,” May 24).

Mickelson attributed breathing, concentration and taking more time to be sure of what he wanted to do before his next swing was the reason he won the PGA Championship. Eliminating his swing loop, likely with the help of his coach, was as much of the reason why he won the PGA as these other actions, but he said nothing about this.

Gerry Giraldi
Trenton, N.J.

Hey, they had to come from somewhere
I can think of only one reason for the raucous, out-of-control crowd at the PGA Championship (“Thrill of a lifetime: Phil Mickelson prevails at PGA,” May 24): that many New Yorkers who were fleeing the pandemic and high taxes still were working their way to Florida.

Charlie Jurgonis
Fairfax, Va.

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