Pat Mayo warned bettors to stay away from Phil Mickelson in outright or top-10 markets at the U.S. Open. Mayo acknowledged Mickelson’s viral bunker hole-out last weekend proves he can still flash vintage short-game magic, but argued that won’t offset Oakmont’s 480-yard par fours and brutal primary rough. According to Mayo, Mickelson’s swing speed has dipped into the low-112-mph range and his LIV season stats place him outside the top 150 in both driving accuracy and greens-in-regulation, a deadly combo on a course that demands precision off the tee and long-iron control. Mayo’s realistic hope is simply that Lefty makes the cut; anything beyond that is, in his words, a "pipe dream." DFS players and outright hunters should treat Mickelson as a nostalgic dart, not a serious investment.

Patrick McDonald urged bettors to ignore Phil Mickelson in every market—outright, top-20, even make-the-cut—because Oakmont remains the lone classic U.S. Open venue where Lefty has never sniffed contention. Mickelson’s career line here is T47-MC-MC, and he will turn 55 the Monday after the championship. McDonald highlighted that only one of the last 53 major winners came from outside the OWGR top-50 (Phil himself in 2021), making a repeat outlier run highly improbable. Oakmont’s 7,400-yard, narrow fairway setup demands driver speed and accuracy Mickelson no longer owns—his 287-yard average on LIV ranks outside the tour’s top-40. Although Phil has posted three LIV top-6 finishes this season, McDonald called them "smoke-and-mirrors results on wide-open courses." The tout recommends treating Mickelson as a heavy underdog to reach the weekend and leaving him out of DFS player pools entirely.

James Colgan encouraged bettors to sprinkle a small stake on Phil Mickelson at +30,000 to win at Oakmont. Colgan framed it as a pure storyline wager: Mickelson is one U.S. Open shy of the career grand slam, owns a well-documented history of near-misses in this championship, and admitted there is a “high likelihood” 2025 is his last start under his expiring PGA Championship exemption. Colgan believes the combination of long odds, sentimental motivation, and Lefty’s penchant for dramatic major runs makes the flier worth a punt.

Rick Gehman highlighted Phil Mickelson as a viable DFS pick at Augusta, pointing to a remarkable recent rejuvenation in his LIV Tour form. Phil enters Augusta off strong finishes including a third and sixth place, consistently gaining strokes tee-to-green and on approach. Gehman emphasized Phil’s long-term comfort and consistent Masters success, noting he hasn't missed a cut since 2016 and was the runner-up just two years ago despite variable form. Given Mickelson's recent strong metrics and unmatched Augusta familiarity, Gehman expects another solid performance, presenting Phil as high-value veteran with plenty of upside for DFS lineups.

Josh Culp believes Phil Mickelson represents value to make the cut at the 2025 Masters at odds of -150. Despite being 54 years old, Mickelson enters Augusta National riding impressive recent form, finishing sixth or better in two of his last three LIV Tour events while striking the ball solidly. Augmenting his case further is Mickelson's exceptional track record at Augusta, making the cut in seven consecutive Masters appearances, regardless of his preceding form. Given Mickelson's steady Masters résumé and strong current form, Culp considers this wager highly attractive and also suggests watching Mickelson's odds closely for potential top-20 finish value once additional props become available.

Pat Mayo included Phil Mickelson as a reliable anchor in his Masters 'to make the cut' parlay at approximately +750 combined odds. Mayo emphasized Augusta's historically inviting layout to left-handers and Mickelson's deep experience and comfort navigating this course. He expressed complete confidence in Mickelson making the weekend at Augusta, seeing clear value in parlaying him alongside safer picks due to limited field size and the easy cut criteria at this major.

Cam Stewart highlighted Phil Mickelson at 65 to 1 odds as a dangerous first round leader bet at the Masters, noting the LIV Golf factor. Stewart explained that familiar Augusta specialists from LIV Golf, including Phil, are quietly entering the Masters in strong form, despite the perception of lower competition levels on the LIV Tour. He specifically pointed to Mickelson's extensive experience and comfort at Augusta, suggesting he wouldn't be remotely shocked if Phil went low on the first day. Stewart sees genuine betting value in Mickelson at long odds due to his Augusta history and current form.

Skylar Hoke sees sneaky DFS upside in Phil Mickelson at the Masters, citing Mickelson's surprising recent LIV Golf results. Despite his age at 53 years old, Phil has recently displayed promising form, notably finishing 3rd and top-10 within the last two events. Skylar stressed his encouraging iron play as a key performance indicator. He reminded bettors of Mickelson's exceptional Augusta track record, highlighted by a shocking runner-up finish out of nowhere just two or three years ago. Hoke believes Phil's appealing recent form, reliable Augusta history and probable low roster popularity offer strong long-shot DFS potential.

Pat Fitzmaurice sees significant betting value in Phil Mickelson, specifically recommending him strongly at +300 odds for a top-20 finish at the 2025 Masters. He underscored Phil's extraordinary Augusta experience as a three-time Masters champion along with notable recent strong finishes on the LIV Tour, including a third-place finish at LIV Hong Kong and sixth at LIV Miami. Fitzmaurice pointed out that Phil's detailed course familiarity, elite short game, and refreshed strong form make him an exceptional choice to deliver a reliable top-20 finish, offering excellent betting return.

Brandon Gdula surprisingly included Phil Mickelson as a worthy DFS longshot at a highly affordable $8,100 salary, thanks to recent improved performances. Despite skepticism, Gdula noted Mickelson's positive strokes gained numbers across tee-to-green and putting metrics over four recent starts, including a sixth-place finish at LIV Miami. Historically, Mickelson has performed well at Augusta, with seven consecutive made cuts and two top-25 finishes in the last three Masters he's played. Gdula stressed Mickelson's reasonable DFS price and recently positive form make him worth consideration despite initial concerns.

Andy Lack firmly dismissed Phil Mickelson's chances at Augusta, noting significant declines in driving distance since 2023 as a substantial disadvantage. Previously, Mickelson could compete into his late-40s against younger players due to his surprising driver power, enabling competitive length off the tee. Recently, losing that distance drastically hampers Mickelson's ability to remain competitive at Augusta across four rounds. Andy's analysis implies Mickelson is no longer a realistic betting option outside a speculative first-round leader bet, calling into question his ability to keep pace over 72 holes.

Neil Parker likes Phil Mickelson to finish as the top senior at the Masters tournament. Mickelson started his 2025 LIV Golf season in impressive fashion, landing four straight Top-25 finishes including solo-third in Hong Kong and solo-sixth in Miami. He also arrives with a consistent record at Augusta National, including a T2 finish in 2023, and is currently gaining true strokes across all statistical categories. Parker believes Lefty has plenty left in the tank, making him an ideal choice for this wager.

FOX Sports recommends betting on Phil Mickelson to finish within the top 20 at the 2025 Masters at +280 odds. Given Mickelson's rich Masters history, including multiple victories and consistent strong play at Augusta, placing a wager on him to secure a top-20 finish provides reasonable risk-reward value for bettors.

Pat Mayo pointed out Phil Mickelson as a prime example of a player whose short-game skills consistently allow them to remain relevant at Augusta, regardless of age or overall form. Mickelson's enduring success around the greens helps explain why he continually performs well at The Masters, even into his 50s. Mayo isn't suggesting Phil will outright win the event, but highlighted Mickelson as a fantastic DFS or deeper betting option due to his proven reliability in chipping and wedge play at Augusta National. The unique setup at Augusta—heavy slopes and tightly mowed rough that require creativity and deft touch—perfectly matches Mickelson's veteran prowess in short game execution.

Pat Mayo outlined Phil Mickelson as a worthwhile Masters top-20 bet after closely reviewing Mickelson's improved accuracy off the tee entering LIV Hong Kong. While traditionally a bomber with erratic drives, Mickelson recently adjusted his approach, showcasing notably generational level driving accuracy at the LIV event preceding Hong Kong. Citing Mickelson's consistently strong Augusta history, including a recent third-place LIV finish, Mayo suggested Phil is unlikely to fall short around the greens and putting, which have always been his strengths. This improved accuracy combined with strong historical Masters results offers intriguing top-20 upside.

Pat Mayo sees renewed appeal around Phil Mickelson entering the Masters due to a recent shift in mainstream media sentiment stemming from his influential transition to LIV Golf. Despite initial backlash when Mickelson left the PGA Tour, Mayo pointed out that the general public and media narrative are now swinging back in Phil's favor, recognizing his significant contribution in reshaping the professional golf landscape. Mayo believes Mickelson's increased goodwill with fans and media, paired with his history of major championship competitiveness, positions him as a compelling and somewhat overlooked betting or DFS option at Augusta this year.

Michael Kim testified firsthand about Phil Mickelson's ongoing passion and competitive spirit, mentioning their planned money matches during Masters practice rounds. Kim’s insights into Phil's unchanged enthusiasm and competitive intensity even in casual encounters underscore Mickelson as continually engaged and aggressive, elements amplifying his value for Masters DFS lineups and betting markets, as Mickelson remains mentally sharp and engaged, crucial at a nuanced course like Augusta National.

Pat Mayo emphasized that Phil Mickelson continues to be an effective Masters performer largely due to his elite short game skills. Mayo pointed out that seasoned short-game specialists like Mickelson retain their touch around Augusta's notoriously challenging greens year after year. Even though Mickelson is not predicted by Mayo to win outright, he highlighted that Mickelson consistently remains around contention and provides strong DFS or betting value because his creativity and proven ability around the greens fits Augusta's demanding short-game requirements.

Tyler Tamboline considers Phil Mickelson an intriguing DFS sleeper priced at $6,700 for The Masters. Tamboline highlighted Augusta's reputation as a course heavily rewarding veteran players with extensive experience, mentioning examples like Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer who previously found themselves in contention despite advanced age. Tamboline believes Phil has similar upside and course knowledge as these older veterans, giving him genuine potential to outperform his DFS price if his game is dialed in.

Pat Mayo discussed Phil Mickelson as a highly speculative pick for majors-only fantasy formats. Mayo noted Mickelson will automatically appear in all four majors based on qualifications, providing volume advantage, yet expressed skepticism over his actual competitive upside. Mayo acknowledged Mickelson's decent recent form heading into Augusta but expressed doubt over his performance potential beyond the Masters. Ultimately, Mayo opted for Nikolai Hojgaard over Phil, believing Nikolai's potential upside at later majors—assuming Hojgaard earns qualification into the US Open and Open Championship—outweighs Mickelson's guaranteed starts. Mayo warned fantasy players to be cautious with Phil, emphasizing guaranteed major starts provide little benefit if a player doesn't have capability to contend.