Is Phil Mickelson sick? How he manages psoriatic arthritis

Before the 2023 Masters began, a photo of previous winners at the annual Masters Club Dinner raised concerns about Phil Mickelson’s health. Netizens speculated that the three-time champion’s health was failing. Phil delivered a masterful performance, producing his best final round at the Masters to finish second. Despite his heroics at Augusta, some fans are still worried about his health.

Phil Mickelson is in the shape of his life thanks to a fasting and exercise regimen

Phil Mickelson is the healthiest he’s ever been. In February 2023, Phil told reporters at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club that he’d slimmed down to his college weight. Phil said (per Fox Sports): 

“I have a whole different energy, whole different excitement. I’ve been rejuvenated. Best shape I’ve been in a long time. We don’t need to go to numbers, but I’m back to where I was when I turned pro. That’s the first time that’s happened.”

Phil’s specially-crafted fasting and exercise regimen has done wonders for his health. A psoriatic arthritis diagnosis in 2010 forced Phil to make changes in his life. Phil was at the top of his game in the 2000s, but he wasn’t taking care of his body. He stated:

“I wasn’t playing well and I wasn’t feeling good about myself. I wasn’t recovering as fast as I wanted to after the rounds and I was feeling tired and not focused towards the end of the round. I felt that the first step in getting that back was getting in better shape – getting lighter, and what I’ve noticed is that I’ve recovered faster.”

Phil fasts, eats healthy foods, hikes, and meditates. He adapts his fasting regimen depending on his schedule. “It gives my body a chance to reset,” Phil talked to golf.com about fasting. Phil told the outlet that reducing food intake has ‘been a sacrifice worth making’. He stated:

“I’ve got to eat a lot less and I’ve got to eat better. I just can’t eat as much and I have to let my body kind of recover. But it’s also been a blessing for me because I feel better and I don’t have inflammation and I wake up feeling good.”

Phil takes a special coffee blend he developed alongside performance coach Dave Phillips. The blend contains, among other things, collagen protein powder, Himalayan pink sea salt, almond milk, Manuka honey, and cinnamon. 

Phillips and Phil created a coffee brand dubbed For Wellness. “Coffee has changed my life,” Phil told Sports Illustrated. “I have made it the foundation of my overall health and wellness.” Phil told golf.com that improved health allows him to compete with younger golfers:

“I work harder physically to be able to practice as long as I wanted to and I’ve had to work a lot harder to be able to maintain focus throughout a round. If I work a little harder, spend a little more time in the gym, eat well, practice hard, there’s no reason why I can’t put it all out there for 18 holes.”