Few things about Phil Mickelson have sparked as much relentless commentary as his hair. Over the years, it has swung between windswept visor days, slicked-down trims, and unintentionally theatrical fades. One of the most ridiculed moments came in September 2024, after a brutal semifinal exit for his HyFlyers GC team in LIV Golf. Mickelson and Brendan Steele had just been dominated by younger rivals Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent. And as Mickelson removed his cap for the customary handshake, all eyes veered straight to the top of his head.

The reaction was swift and merciless. A freeze-frame from the moment spread like wildfire across Golf Twitter™. One fan compared the cut to a James Bond villain audition. Others asked if he’d let a HyFlyers intern take a crack at the clippers. There were calls for a new barber and a eulogy for the long-retired visor. Mickelson had clearly undergone a transformation, but not one for the better. The ridicule felt familiar, too, because even years earlier Phil had been the kind to lean into jokes himself. Back in August 2018, fresh off a rough patch in his game and sporting fuller hair again, he tweeted: “Who wears it better? When I cut my hair, I lost my powers. My hair is back and so is my game 😂.”

Fast forward to July 2025, and Claire Rogers poured fresh fuel on the fire with a throwback. The photo showed Mickelson grinning ear to ear after his 2013 Open Championship win at Muirfield, Claret Jug in hand, and a cascade of neck-length hair peeking out beneath his visor. The curls touched just past his ears, puffed out at the sides, and looked like a relic from a different era. With the clean-cut, cap-wearing Mickelson of today still recovering from last year’s failed fade, the side-by-side contrast hit just right. And that’s when Maken White, girlfriend of PGA Tour pro Jake Knapp, stepped in with a deadpan observation. 

“That’s a female vice principal,” joked Maken White, sending the comments section into overdrive. But it wasn’t the first time he’d faced this kind of mockery. The good news is, Mickelson has never been afraid to lean into the humor. Back in August 2018, after a rough stretch in his game and a return to longer hair, he posted a photo on X standing next to Pat Perez and captioned it: “Who wears it better? When I cut my hair, I lost my powers. My hair is back and so is my game 😂.” In fairness to Mickelson, Father Time spares no one, and while the haircut drew laughs, the real transformation was one he clearly worked for.

At 54, the six-time major winner is visibly leaner than he was even five years ago, having dropped around 25 pounds through an intense regime of intermittent fasting—sometimes going up to five days without solid food—and what he called a “disciplined” coffee routine laced with MCT oil, collagen, L-theanine, Manuka honey, and almond milk. It wasn’t just about weight loss, though; Mickelson paired it with strength and speed training to regain the muscle he’d lost. “I’ve been lifting and slowly getting my speed and strength back to where I need it to be,” he told Golf Digest. For all the jokes about hair and age, and with Mickelson hinting at retirement after the 2025 U.S. Open and eyeing a non-playing captaincy with HyFlyers GC, the physical reset feels less like a comeback and more like a sendoff.

But Phil is still not the only golfer grabbing attention for his appearance. Another big name has sparked similar chatter—Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy Opens Up About His Surprising Haircut

Rory McIlroy caught eyes at the Genesis Scottish Open not only for his game but also for his noticeably shorter haircut. As McIlroy revealed, the change was an attempt to hide his graying hair. “I stupidly thought that by going shorter, it would take the grays out,” he said with a laugh. “If anything, it makes me look more gray.” Though the trim didn’t quite work as planned, he joked that it’ll grow back in time for the Ryder Cup in September.

CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis couldn’t resist pointing it out during a post-round interview. “You seem a little lighter, and it might be because of the haircut. Can you just take the hat off for us? What happened there, Rory?” McIlroy obliged with a smile, explaining the reasoning behind his decision, while Balionis joked it could turn out to be a good-luck haircut.