Column: At the age of 50, Phil finds a new way to thrill

But something funny happened, as it tends to do in golf more than other sports. Mickelson, it turns out, had been working on elongating his mind to match his golf swing, employing meditation to help him visualize shots.

Quirky, yes. Different, sure. Phil has always been Phil, and advancing age hasn’t changed that.

But unlike the gum chewing craze Mickelson tried earlier, this actually worked.

He’s a major champion for the sixth time in his career. He no longer needs to play the senior tour for validation.

And he’s got another spot in the record books, much to the delight of almost everyone in golf.

“I just believed it was possible yet everything was saying it wasn’t,” Mickelson said. “I hope others find that inspiration.”

He might not have to look past the locker room to find out. His fellow players certainly took notice, and to a man they talked about both Mickelson’s love for the game and his love to compete at everything.

“His enthusiasm is what keeps him going at his age; (he) has the same enthusiasm I have at 26 and he’s been doing this a very long time,” Jon Rahm said. “I mean he’s been on tour as long as I’ve been alive. For him to keep that willingness to play and compete and practice, even when it hasn’t been working, it’s truly admirable.”