ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Phil Mickelson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012 at the age of 41.
If the new requirements for nomination were in place then, he would have had to wait nine more years.
The Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday that the minimum age for
induction has been raised from 40 to 50, with one exception – players
who are five or more years removed from being active on their respective
tours.
The new rule affects the status of Tiger Woods, who met the final
requirement under the old system when he turned 40 years old in
December. Woods, who has won 79 PGA Tour titles and 14 major
championship, now can't be nominated until 2026, unless he retires from
golf at least five years before that.
Lorena Ochoa, on the other hand, is eligible for nomination this year
at the age of 34 under the exception to the 50-year-old requirement. She
retired from the LPGA in 2010 after winning 27 tournaments.
One criticism of the Hall of Fame was the 40-year-old minimum, which
elevated players such as Mickelson, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh when they
were still in their early 40s. Even players who went in soon after
turning 40 had reservations.
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