Phil Being Phil

British Open 2024: Phil Mickelson found a Phil Mickelson reason to convert to this controversial golf attire

By Alex Myers

July 20, 2024

Rob Casey - SNS Group

Phil Mickelson lost a bet, but it sounds like he wound up finding a new style.

The six-time major champ was defeated (with strokes) by YouTube star Grant Horvat in a video that was released earlier this week, resulting in him having to wear joggers at the British Open. Although Mickelson didn't seem pleased about the prospect of wearing the somewhat (ridiculously) controversial item of golf clothing—especially as a 54-year-old—he quickly changed his tune after putting them on for the first time at Royal Troon.

So much so that despite the fact Phil was only required to wear joggers for one round, he's going to end up wearing them—both black and grey ones—for the entire tournament.

Looking good, Lefty! And in classic Phil fashion, he even came up with a deeper golf-related reason for continuing to wear them this week.

"I actually really like them. Especially out here where the wind is blowing and my pants are getting caught on the socks, whatever, they're not," Mickelson told reporters at Royal Troon following Saturday's third round after being the second-oldest player in the field to make the cut. "I really do like them. Yeah, I'll wear them again."

Guess you can teach an old dog golfer new (fashion) tricks.

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Is it the British Open or the Open Championship? The name of the final men’s major of the golf season is a subject of continued discussion. The event’s official name, as explained in this op-ed by former R&A chairman Ian Pattinson, is the Open Championship. But since many United States golf fans continue to refer to it as the British Open, and search news around the event accordingly, Golf Digest continues to utilize both names in its coverage.