Phil Mickelson's six runner-up finishes at the US Open
Last Updated: 13/06/15 12:07am
Phil Mickelson has endured more US Open heartbreak than any other player in history, and the tournament remains the one missing major from his collection.
The left-hander may have a hat-trick of Masters wins, one US PGA title and an Open Championship victory, but he has suffered a number of near-misses in his quest to land his home national championship.
Mickelson has finished runner-up no fewer than six times in his career, and he will be determined to go one better and complete a career grand slam at Chambers Bay this week.
The agony began in 1999 at Pinehurst No 2, when his putt to tie for the lead lipped out before Payne Stewart rolled in a 15-foot par putt to clinch a thrilling one-shot victory just four months before he was tragically killed in a plane crash.
Three years later, Mickelson played well to finish on level par at Bethpage, but Tiger Woods had enough in hand over the first three days to cruise to a three-stroke win.
Mickelson looked primed to end the misery when he edged ahead of Retief Goosen with three holes to play at brutal Shinnecock Hills in 2004, but he three-putted the 17th hole to run up a double-bogey and the South African birdied 16 and parred the last two holes to win by two.
Perhaps Mickelson's best chance came at Winged Foot in 2006, when he arrived on the 72nd tee with a one-shot lead over Geoff Ogilvy only to carve his drive way left and then hit a tree with his bold second. His third plugged in a greenside bunker, and he was unable to hold the green with his escape as he closed with an ugly double-bogey six.
The crowd-favourite went close again back at Bethpage in 2009, but Lucas Glover had taken control of the tournament with a stunning second-round 64 and went on to hold his nerve down the stretch to clinch a two-shot win.
Mickelson tied for fourth at Pebble Beach in 2010 and failed to contend over the next two years, but he bounced back at Merion in 2013 and went into the final 18 holes with a one-stroke lead and looking to complete a wire-to-wire victory.
But an error-strewn final-round 74 allowed Justin Rose to steal the title by a two-shot margin, leaving Mickelson to wonder if he was destined never to win the major he cherishes most.