Some of the world's best golfers waited at the final hole of the PGA Championship to congratulate Phil Mickelson after his historic win

• Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship on Sunday, the sixth major victory of his career.
• As Mickelson walked off the 18th green, he was received by some fellow players who stuck around.
• Mickelson's reception was evidence of how beloved he is on the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson made history on Sunday, becoming the oldest player to win a major in the history of golf.

Nearing 51, Mickelson held off one of the strongest fields in all of golf at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island to win the PGA Championship by two strokes.

As Mickelson played the final hole, fans broke out into the fairway to surround the green and watch him up close as he secured the championship. The scene showed just how beloved Mickelson is by golf fans, who have been following Lefty for nearly 30 years.

But the greatest reception Mickelson received came after he had sunk his final putt of the tournament.

As Mickelson walked off the 18th green to sign his scorecard and make his win official, he was greeted by player after player who had stuck around to watch him win and congratulate him on making history.

The 2020 PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa was there to greet Mickelson on his walk, as were fellow Arizona State alums Paul Casey and Jon Rahm.

Louis Oosthuizen, who finished two strokes behind Mickelson in a tie for second at Kiawah, also offered his congratulations.

Kevin Streelman, Rickie Fowler, and Pádraig Harrington all also stopped by to pay their respects.

They were joined by members of Mickelson's team, managers, coaches, and friends, in pulling Lefty close and congratulating him on his victory.

Mickelson also received congratulations from those who couldn't be present, including his rival-turned-friend Tiger Woods, who wrote that Mickelson's performance was "truly inspirational."

Mickelson wasn't always the most beloved figure in the golf world. As an almost-instant superstar on the PGA Tour, Mickelson had plenty of enemies.

But now in his fourth decade as a professional golfer, Mickelson has served as a mentor of sorts to many of the stars of the younger generations of the sport.

According to Golf Digest, Mickelson has for the past 12 years or so played money games with young players on tour who he thinks might be future Ryder Cup competitors. A round with Mickelson undoubtedly comes with plenty of trash talk but also invaluable lessons that younger players can glean from a man who has seen every aspect of professional golf.

On Sunday, the respect Mickelson's earned from his fellow golfers was on full display on his walk from the 18th green.

In 2021, Mickelson might be the old man at the course, but as he proved over the weekend, he's still got plenty of game left.