Phil Mickelson’s glory at 50 made possible by dedication and belief

There could well be more high-profile victories to come from a player who never believed his time on golf’s frontline was over

It may seem typical after a shock sporting outcome for the champion to insist he or she always had belief they could defy the odds. In the case of Phil Mickelson, the level of continued dedication to his profession makes earlier confidence entirely believable.

At the age of 50 years, 11 months and seven days, Mickelson became the oldest champion in major history amid moving scenes at the US PGA Championship. What came after was not so much an explanation of how Mickelson reached the finest achievement of his career but insistence of how he never believed his time on golf’s frontline was over.