Mickelson becomes oldest major winner at 50 with epic PGA win

Phil Mickelson reacts to a missed birdie putt in the final round of his historic triumph in the 2021 PGA Championship

Phil Mickelson hoists the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2021 PGA Championship to become, at 50, golf's oldest major champion

Phil Mickelson became the oldest major winner in golf history on Sunday, the 50-year-old left-hander capturing the PGA Championship by two strokes for his sixth and most iconic major title.

The age-defying American took the $2.1 million (1.7 million euro) top prize with an epic victory for the ages, producing a dazzling shotmaking display at windy Kiawah Island's while younger rivals faded.

Mickelson erased the major age win mark set by American Julius Boros when he captured the 1968 PGA Championship at age 48.

Mickelson grinded out a final-round one-over par 73 to finish 72 holes on six-under 282 with South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, and American Brooks Koepka, a four-time major winner, sharing second on 284.

"This is just an incredible feeling because I believed that it was possible but yet everything was saying it wasn't," Mickelson said. "I hope others find that inspirational."

Spectators created a surreal scene at the 18th hole, swarming around Mickelson after his second shot as he tried to walk to the 18th green, needing to three-putt from 16 feet for the epic triumph.

"I don't think I've ever had an experience like that, so thank you for that," Mickelson told the crowd as he accepted the Wanamaker Trophy.

The crowd, limited to 10,000 people by Covid-19 safety measures, roared with every successful swing by Mickelson, creating an electric atmosphere all day on the punishing Ocean Course, the longest layout in major history at 7,876 yards.

World number 115 Mickelson sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the 10th while Koepka and Oosthuizen made bogeys to leave "Lefty" with a four-stroke edge.

Mickelson found water at the 13th and made bogey on Sunday's hardest hole, then missed a seven-foot par putt at the par-3 14th for a bogey that increased the tension, leaving Oosthuizen two adrift and the week's toughest holes remaining.

Mickelson took a bogey at 17 and drove left at 18 near a hospitality tent then put his approach on the green to spark the chaotic finish.

It was the 45th career US PGA Tour triumph, his first since 2019 at Pebble Beach.

His other major wins came at the 2010 Masters and the 2013 British Open.

Koepka, fighting through pain to play after right knee surgery two months ago, won the 2018 and 2019 PGAs and could have become the first player to win the same major three times in four years since Tom Watson at the 1980, 1982 and 1983 British Opens.

American Jordan Spieth, trying to win to complete a career Grand Slam, closed on 74 to finish on 290.

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