Phil Mickelson is now $US9 million richer after defeating Tiger Woods in their made-for-TV showdown. While the following achievement doesn’t pack the same monetary payday, it’s exponentially more noteworthy.
Although “The Match” didn’t award Official World Golf Ranking points, Mickelson remained at No.27 in the global standing. According to the rankings system, Mickelson has now been inside the world’s top 50 for 25 years.
This week Phil Mickelson @MickelsonHat will reach another milestone in his long and storied career when the American celebrates 25 consecutive years inside the Top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking!!https://t.co/BKVNII8yss#OWGR#OfficialWorldGolfRanking pic.twitter.com/CkjiGtM5RJ
— OWGR (@OWGRltd) November 26, 2018
Mickelson breached the top 50 on November 28, 1993, thanks to a second-place finish to Tom Lehman at the Casio World Open in Japan. The five-time Major winner has spent 774 weeks in that span inside the top 10.
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The 48-year-old’s streak was in danger at one point this year, falling to No.49 after the Farmers Insurance Open, but four consecutive top-six finishes – highlighted by a win at the WGC–Mexico Championship – elevated Mickelson into the top 20.
In other OWGR news, Brooks Koepka again recaptured the No.1 ranking from Justin Rose. This is the fifth time either Koepka or Rose has been No.1 since late October.