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Ohio golfer Peter Starr made a name for himself as a leading high school player in the late 2000s. In addition to winning several competitions for Ohio schools, Peter Starr has met some of his heroes, including Phil Mickelson, the winner of 44 Professional Golfers’ Association events and three Masters’ titles.
Born in 1970 in San Diego, California, Mickelson displayed an early interest in the game when at age three he left home, saying he was looking for the golf course. As a junior he won 34 tournaments, becoming a standout for Arizona State University and taking All-American honors all four years.
He went on to become the most successful left-handed player in PGA history. His penchant for taking risks led him to many tournament wins, such as Pebble Beach and the World Series of Golf.
Although he broke Tiger Woods’ winning streak in 2000, he was saddled with a reputation as the best player never to win a major. That ended with the 2004 Masters Tournament, when he birdied five of the last seven holes to edge Ernie Els by one stroke.
Hard times hit Mickelson in 2010, when he was stricken with psoriatic arthritis, a condition experienced by one in 20 Americans. Although the disease is incurable, Mickelson has stayed in top form with a combination of powerful medications, proper diet, and exercise.
In 2018 Mickelson and Woods faced off again in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a televised one-on-one match. Mickelson finally prevailed with a birdie on the 22nd hole.
Peter Starr (Ohio) 