World Golf Hall of Fame to induct Mickelson in 2012

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Phil Mickelson has won the Masters three times so far in his career.
November 10, 2011
Staff and wire reports

SINGAPORE -- The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum will enshrine four-time major winner Phil Mickelson as part of its Class of 2012. The announcement that Mickelson was elected through the PGA TOUR Ballot was made on Thursday at the Barclays Singapore Open.

Mickelson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at its Induction Ceremony on May 7, 2012 at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla. The Ceremony is held on the Monday of THE PLAYERS Championship week.

"This is a really special and cool honor, and I'm excited to be part of the Hall of Fame," Mickelson said Thursday at the news conference to announce his induction. "I'm excited to be part of the Hall of Fame that has the names of the greats of the game that I looked up idolizing and many of them that I've had a chance to compete against early in my career, and to be a part of that group is a special feeling."

How the voting went
PGA TOUR Ballot Results
Candidate Voting Results Pct.
Phil Mickelson 72%

Fred Couples 38%
Davis Love III 29%
Mark O'Meara 29%
Macdonald Smith 27%
Ken Venturi 27%
Tony Lema 22%
Fuzzy Zoeller 17%
Dave Stockton 16%
Harold (Jug) McSpaden 12%
Miller Barber 10%
Don January 9%
Jim Furyk 4%
Loren Roberts 1%

Mickelson was elected through the PGA TOUR Ballot with 72 percent of the vote. It is the highest percentage a player has received on the PGA TOUR Ballot since Greg Norman came in with 80 percent in 2001.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem made the announcement.

"On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I congratulate Phil Mickelson on being bestowed with one of the highest honors in our sport -- induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame," Finchem said. "It seems Phil has been destined for this honor for some time. From his days as one of world's premier amateur players to his seamless transition to professional star, Phil has always performed at the highest levels of the sport and this recognition is well deserved."

Mickelson's career is highlighted by his four major championship titles: the 2004, 2006 and 2010 Masters; and the 2005 PGA Championship. He has 35 additional PGA TOUR wins, including the 2007 PLAYERS Championship, and three international victories. He became eligible for the PGA TOUR Ballot after his 10th year on TOUR in 2003, and met the final qualification for that ballot when he turned 40 last year.

He has competed on eight Ryder Cup teams and will play on his ninth U.S. Presidents Cup Team next week in Melbourne, Australia. Mickelson is the only player, for either team, to participate in every Presidents Cup since the event's inception in 1994.

"My thanks go to those who voted me into the World Golf Hall of Fame," Mickelson said. "It really is a tremendous honor to be mentioned alongside the greats of a game that's centuries old. THE PLAYERS Championship week always has been special to me and the Induction Ceremony next May will make it even more so."

The Hall of Fame will round out the Class of 2012 by announcing the inductees from the International Ballot and Veterans and Lifetime Achievement categories in the coming weeks.

"We look forward to welcoming Phil Mickelson into the World Golf Hall of Fame family," said Hall of Fame Chief Operating Officer Jack Peter. "He is one of golf's most beloved and successful players and we are excited to tell Phil's story at the 2012 Induction Ceremony and in the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum."