2022 US Open golf odds: Phil Mickelson 80-to-1 long shot to complete career Grand Slam; will Lefty even play?

We are halfway through the 2022 Grand Slam schedule on the PGA and European Tours following Justin Thomas' victory over Will Zalatoris in a playoff at the PGA Championship on Sunday from Southern Hills. The next major is the U.S. Open, this year held from The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., starting on June 16. Phil Mickelson has skipped the Masters and PGA Championship because of his comments on the Saudi-backed golf league that have made him a bit of a pariah in the golf world. Will Lefty play the U.S. Open? Caesars has him on the board but a +8000 long shot to win.

Mickelson has memorably finished runner-up a record six times at the U.S. Open, the only major he hasn't won. There's a very select group with the career Grand Slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

At age 51, it's obviously not likely that Lefty can win what is usually the most difficult of the four majors, but then again at age 50 he become the oldest major championship winner at the 2021 PGA Championship. That's what made it so surprising that he chose not to defend last week.

Three months ago, Mickelson voiced support for the Saudi-backed breakaway golf tour despite acknowledging the country's "horrible record on human rights." He hasn't been seen or heard from since. He originally was in the field for the PGA Championship before withdrawing. Mickelson's 52nd birthday is June 16, incidentally.

"I wish you could see him now,'' Mary Mickelson said to USA Today about her son over the weekend – noting that he now has a beard and mustache to help being noticed in public. "He's relaxed, he laughs all the time. He's not on the phone with people that are calling him for this and that, and please play in this tournament, and it's hard when you have to say no, when you don't have the time to spend. But he has taken a lot of time with our family… I think you'll see a different person if he decides to come back and if he plays, someone who's going to enjoy playing just to be playing.' "

There's no question that the U.S. Open is now the one tournament that Mickelson wants to win most. The Country Club has hosted the event three previous times, last in 1988 when Curtis Strange and Nick Faldo each finished at 6-under and Strange won in a playoff. The course also hosted the memorable 1999 Ryder Cup won by Team USA.

Tiger Woods withdrew from the PGA Championship after a third-round 79. It was his first career W/D at a major as a professional and no one knows if he will play the U.S. Open. Tiger is +5000 to win it for a record-tying fourth time and first since 2008.

Woods has indicated he will only play in "the big events," and specifically said that he will play in the British Open, which will start on July 14. Woods and Mickelson were part of that 1999 Ryder Cup team. They both have registered to play at the U.S. Open, but that's simply a formality.

Spain's Jon Rahm is the defending champion and a +1200 second favorite behind reigning Masters winner and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (+1100), who missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Thomas is +1400 to have the rare PGA/U.S. Open double in the same year. 

Most of this year's U.S. Open field will be unfamiliar with The Country Club because it hasn't hosted anything since the 2013 US Amateur won by England's Matt Fitzpatrick. Former New England Patriots running back Danny Woodhead might be in the field. He was one of five golfers to advance from an Omaha qualifier and he will participate in final qualifying play in Springfield, Ohio, on June 6.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Will Phil Mickelson play in the US Open?

• Yes -150
• No -120

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