Phil Mickelson Maintains One-Shot Lead Over Koepka, Can Make History With Win on Sunday

Once the dust settled on Saturday’s PGA Championship action, 50-year-old Phil Mickelson maintained a single-shot lead over Brooks Koepka to set up a historic final round this Sunday.  

While Koepka remains the favorite (+160), the stage is set for Mickelson (+275) to make history by becoming the oldest major champion in PGA history. Current record holder Julius Boros won the PGA Tournament at age 48 in 1968. 

Mickelson’s collected focus on Saturday displayed an ease in execution at Kiawah Island during the first ten holes, hitting five birdies and at one point building a five-shot lead.

Mickelson reflected on his performance in a post-game interview and said that the key to his lead was, "not letting a couple of bad swings affect me here and there ... " 

The latter half of the day left a lot to be desired for Mickelson, earning a double bogey at the end of the 13th hole after scoring an errant bogey in the 12th. 

“It’s just an example of losing the field and the picture of the shot. I get a little jumpy, a little fast, from the top … just a small little thing that I need to iron out.” 

With weight of the weekend’s golfing championship resting on Lefty’s swings this Sunday, Mickelson is keen on making the final round at Ocean Course a refined version of Saturday’s solid performance, and to make history along the way.  

“Hopefully I can eliminate a couple of loose swings going into tomorrow,” said Mickelson during the interview. “I’m playing a lot better than what the score is showing, and I think if I can just stay sharp tomorrow, I can post a score that better reflects how I’m playing.”