Mickelson's Equipment Secrets

How the oldest Major winner in history carefully picks his gear to get him closer to the youngsters

- Simon Daddow

When 50-year-old Phil Mickelson won this year’s PGA Championship, he smashed a record that was older than him, beating Julius Boros to become the oldest Major winner ever. On the surface, the win meant Mickelson chalked up his sixth Major victory. But for those close to him it represented the culmination of years of hard work to do what no other tour player had done before – to get faster and longer with age.

Back in 2017, Mickelson decided that if he was going to continue to compete with the youngsters, he had to drive the ball 310 yards through the air, which at the time needed a massive 10mph gain in ball speed. He started with his diet, then it was his body (he’s beaten arthritis), then came his technique and finally, this year, his driver has come under the spotlight. And at Kiawah Island, all that hard work paid off.

As a long-time Callaway staff player, Mickelson has a go-to club builder at the brand’s Performance Centre in Carlsbad, California.

Gerrit Pon is that guy, and he’s been by Mickelson’s side every step of the way as Lefty’s gone on his personal quest to remain competitive deep into middle age. Pon personally builds and tweaks all of Phil’s new equipment, and because Mickelson is a Carlsbad local, he’s a frequent visitor to the Centre, using the place in much the same way most pros use a tour truck.