Mickelson & # 039; s record 26-year top 50 run is coming to an end

Mickelson's career-high rankings are in second place

The run is over.

For the first time in almost 26 years, five-time big winner Phil Mickelson has dropped out of the top 50 of the world golf rankings.

The 49-year-old American had spent 1,353 consecutive weeks in the top 50 – the longest consecutive series since the official world ranking began in 1986 – but dropped to 51st after 28th draw at the WGC-HSBC Champions on Sunday.

Mickelson, who won his 44th PGA Tour title in February, said, "It was a good run, but I'll be back."

Current world number one Brooks Koepka was only three years old when Mickelson first broke into the top 50 on November 28, 1993 as a 23-year-old, while Sir John Major was prime minister in the UK and Meat Loaf & # 39; s I & # 39; m Do Anything for Love (but I Won & # 39; t Do That) was UK number 1.

At that time, & # 39; Leftie & # 39; He won 48 tournaments, although he never actually took it to the top of the rankings, by keeping a certain Tiger Woods off the top for a long time.

Fall can have an impact on Mickelson in the future, with the top 50 in the world automatically inviting in some of the game's biggest tournaments.

However, three Masters victories over Augusta National and the American PGA Championship 2005 title have given him lifelong exceptions for those tournaments, while the 2013 Open champion can play the oldest major until he turns 60.

Mickelson is six times second at the US Open, but if he does not meet the exemption criteria, including automatic access to the top 60 in the world, he would depend on receiving a special exception from the United States Golf Association.

Rory McIlroy now has the longest continuous run in the top 50 at 573 weeks. According to statisticians from the 15th club, he should stay there until October 2034 to match Mickelson & # 39; s achievement.