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One Magical Sunday:

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The author chronicles his 2004 Masters win, revealing early influences, and offering a glimpse into his personal life and relationships.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

15 people are currently reading
116 people want to read

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Phil Mickelson

15 books2 followers

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5 stars
131 (34%)
4 stars
150 (39%)
3 stars
83 (21%)
2 stars
17 (4%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Sam Satterfield.
12 reviews
March 10, 2019
I want to start by saying I am a big fan of Phil Mickelson, but I've actually had this book for about 12 years without actually reading it. I now consider that a huge mistake because it was so much better than I expected it to be. You don't have to be a fan of Phil or really even golf to enjoy this book. It's filled with amazing personal stories I never knew about, despite the fact I grew up watching him and learning about him. Definitely an underrated sports book that I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Dutchfarmeress.
98 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2017
What an enjoyable book! Mickelson writes about his first win of the Masters. Each hole is a chapter and in it is woven the story of his life. Nicely done. At the same time you learn something about course management, mind set and moral.
Profile Image for Chace Witherow.
41 reviews
July 18, 2023
A great story about family and triumph. Although he won plenty on the tour, Phil was always chasing the big one. This book charted how he got there and how the people along the way were his driving success. 18 chapters covered 18 holes of the Masters tournament, recounting each one and adding something learned along the way sandwiched between it all.
Profile Image for Jd.
12 reviews
October 1, 2010
I thought this was an excellent book. It talks about Phil's lifestory and how everyone always said that he will be destined to be a professional golfer and win the Master's. At the beginning and end of each chapter it talks about how Phil played the hole that he was on. I extremly recommend this book to anyone that knows Phil Mickelson or just likes golf.
Profile Image for John Yelverton.
4,431 reviews38 followers
March 22, 2016
This is a combination autobiography and testimony about the day Phil Mickelson won the Master's. Though it is good, the author's and his family's "spiritualism" will make the reader cringe in more than one spot.
4 reviews2 followers
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December 20, 2019
The book, One Magical Sunday (But Winning Isn’t Everything), by Phil Mickelson and Donald Phillips talks about Phil’s magical weekend when he won the Masters. The book is a very inspiring book as it talks about how hard Phil had to work and all the hours he put into the game of golf to be at the position where he is now. I really liked the book because I love the PGA Tour (Professional Golf Association) and it also talks about debatable one of the greatest golfers of all time. Phil Mickelson and I are also both left handed golfers which leads me to like Phil more than other golfers and tours and makes me root for him to win. The book was able to show me many interesting facts that I did not know about Phil and everything he went through to win on that one magical sunday. My favorite part of the book was when it talked about how his dad actually made him his first ever club and how it talked about him growing his golf game throughout his career. The book had very few parts that were tough to read, but there were a couple times were I became a little confused while reading. The book was really well written and I could not put up a debate or argument at all that could put this book down. I would recommend this book to any PGA Tour fan who likes the game of golf and also to those who love Phil Mickelson. The book would also be a very good book for teenagers who are into the game of golf and want to learn how you can get better by just practice, practice, practice. This book would be somewhat relatable to other professional athletes biographies, but still have its own taste and flavor because of the story Phil has of becoming a professional golfer. The book was a phenomenal book and I would rate it a nine out of ten.
257 reviews
February 6, 2025
Great book about Phil’s life and thought process while going on Sunday’s final round where he won the Master’s and finally got a major and his green jacket. I like Phil, although not my favorite golf, I do like him and his style of play. He talked a lot about his drive and style of play. The book also hits on how important winning his green jacket was but that wasn’t the greatest goal. His most important win is his family. It was a short book and quick read. If you like Augusta or Phil, I would recommend.
Profile Image for Kristen.
408 reviews1 follower
September 16, 2025
Great read for any PGA golf fan. Follows Phil Mickelson's first major win and is divided up into each hole as a chapter. With insight into each shot and description of holes at Augusta National's Masters Championship, this book also is intertwined with interesting stories throughout Phil's life.
A truly great read, even 21 years later!
18 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2019
A spectacular account of an incredible man and his family!

Having followed Phil throughout his career, it is no surprise that this story is so wonderful. Lots of great 'life lessons' coupled with an enchanting insight into the herculean effort necessary to achieve such greatness!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
93 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2024
4.25 stars. I really enjoyed this. I don't know much about golf, but I remember my brother watching Phil in the major tournaments. He always seemed like a likable guy and this book confirmed that. This was a nice mix of golf and family intertwined into one book.
9 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2018
Loved this book. Walks you through hole by hole and also gives great stories from his life.
Profile Image for Debbie.
118 reviews
April 30, 2019
I loved this book. Actually I listened to Phil Mickelson, his wife Amy, and other family members narrate this book. If you love golf, you will enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Zach Smith.
26 reviews
April 11, 2020
I read this while watching a replay of the final round of the 2004 Masters. It was like a commentary by the man himself. Would recommend.
Profile Image for Scott Hodoval.
133 reviews2 followers
January 19, 2021
Enjoyable. A hole by hole account of Phil's winning Masters Sunday interspersed with personal stories of his life.
4 reviews
October 17, 2013
One Magical Sunday




Since I idolize Phil Mickelson as a golfer, I decided to read One Magical Sunday (But Winning Isn’t Everything) by Phil Mickelson for a school project. After reading this book, I have decided that I also idolize him as a person. Phil Mickelson has many of the qualities that I myself would like to have.
Mickelson has strong moral values instilled upon him by his parents. His parents made sure he did not act like he was the best at everything—even if he was. He learned this lesson when he saw a skier bragging about how great he was; however, the skier fell repeatedly. His parents, Mary and Phillip, told him to never follow that skier’s example; if a person cannot prove that he is the best, then he will be mocked by others. Because they taught him to never brag, Phil was afraid to tell his mother that, at age 8, he had beaten his father at golf because he did not want her to think that he was bragging. I hope to use Phil’s example in my own life. I have a tendency to want to tell my opponents at golf that I will beat them easily, but I do not want to be proven wrong. I have learned from Phil that it is best just to let my game do the talking for me.
Another reason I admire Phil Mickelson is because he is a gentleman on the course—just like he is off the course. Unlike Tiger Woods, you will never see Phil Mickelson throw his club, curse, and be rude to fans and his competitors.
I also would like to emulate Phil’s work ethic. He worked at a private country club picking up range balls so that he would be able to use the course after work. Even in the dark, Mickelson would play 18 holes every day after school. One Thanksgiving, Phil even snuck away from the family gathering. His parents decided not to punish him when he quoted Ben Hogan: “Every day that you don’t practice is one day longer before you achieve greatness.” I would love to follow in his footsteps, so I am dedicating as much time as I can to the game. I even hope to get a job at the country club this summer helping with golf camp.
Phil is also very generous. He always tips very well and when asked why he leaves waitresses such big tips, Phil said, “Because they work hard for a living. They don’t make much and they don’t expect much, either. I make a great living and I can afford to do it. I also like to do it. It’s especially nice to see a kid’s eyes brighten up. It’s fun for me. I like to make people happy.” I would like to use his example to become a more generous person, too. I have been fortunate enough to have grown up in a family that has provided for me very well. I like to donate my old clothes and toys to the less fortunate. I want to continue helping others as I grow older.
One Magical Sunday is a heartfelt story about a golfer—but also a glimpse into the dreams of many golfers like myself. Golfers will love this book, but even nongolfers will enjoy the read. Phil’s story gives his readers a guide map to a successful life. By working hard and being a good person, anyone can achieve their own success.
Profile Image for Tom NoFi.
14 reviews4 followers
January 17, 2012
Overall I had a great experience reading this book. I tend to multi-task while reading by listening to music on headphones or to also be watching Jeopardy. Perhaps it is because some books bore me. This was actually quite the opposite of boring. I found it to be interesting, well-written if not too simple, but formatted in a way that led it to be a quick and concise read.

I'm a golfer, a fan, and also a lefty. But for years I had failed to be drawn to Mickelson. I had heard a story here or there that he was a jerk. Also, he's not a true lefty, just plays golf lefty - unlike many of my uncles, who are lefties that play right-handed golf. There were plenty of lefty athletes to look up to besides Phil, many of which have won huge championships. And frankly, Phil hadn't won the big one, any of the 4 golf majors.

Granted, writing an auto-biography lets you say whatever you want, toot your own horn, tell a one-side tale that may be far from the truth. However, in this case, the book is littered with quotations from family and friends, peers and competitors. You get a sense of who Phil Mickelson is as a golfer, a husband/father, an amateur pilot; he's a real person who does some great things.

There are two things I noticed that made me enjoy the book the most. First, Phil didn't achieve his success by luck or by accident; he is meticulous in his methods of practice, and has been since he was a very young boy. But Phil and the co-author don't ram it down your throat that you should practice practice PRACTICE, they just allude to the fact that his methods have helped him in so many particular aspects of his game, his life. Secondly, Phil is a family man. He cares for his family over anything else, and that is impressive to hear about. He has balanced his unusual career by making sure that his wife and kids and immediate fam and in-laws are around to enjoy and celebrate with him. It is humbling to hear that success doesn't always mean sacrifice, at least not of the better and more important things in life.

All in all, this was a good read. I finished the 200pager in about 2-3 days, maybe 6 hours of reading in total. I'll flip through it again in a few years, I'm sure, which is not something I do with a lot of books.
Profile Image for Robin.
203 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2016
I really enjoyed tis book but I will be the first to admit that it may not be for everyone. You should enjoy golf - either watching or playing. My husband golfs so we watch quite a lot of it. Phil Mickelson is my favorite golfer and I remember that One Magical Sunday when he won his first major championship at Augusta and received his first green jacket - the most sought after prize in professional golf. In this book he tells the story of his Sunday round hole by hole and weaves into it the story of his love for the game since he was a child, meeting and marrying his beloved wife, and the birth of their children. Interspersed are quotes from his family members, coaches and fellow golf pros.
Profile Image for Gerald Matzke.
596 reviews4 followers
January 8, 2014
In this look back at the final round of the 2004 Masters, Phil Mickelson describes each shot and adds flashbacks in his life. Also included are comments by family and friends. He centers on lessons learned from his parents and coaches, some of which he passed on to his children. It was an enjoyable book that showed the personal side of one of the best golfers of our time. It gives you an appreciation for his commitment to his family first and his golf career second.
Profile Image for Shauna.
499 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2014
Phil Mickelson is my husband's idol. Because I love my husband, I thought I'd read this after he finished. It's an easy read (for active readers), and it flows nicely. I didn't love the beginning and ends of each chapter being golf talk, but I see where that would be completely relevant to most of the readers. I loved Phil's story, I think he is an amazing man (and great role-model).

Profile Image for Deb.
122 reviews1 follower
August 18, 2015
I enjoyed it very much, but I can say if you don't like golf, or Phil, or even know anything about them or the PGA Tour you may not completely enjoy it. I do love how he went through every hole of his Masters winning Sunday round, his first Major win, and intertwined things from his past. You get to see how where he came from brought him to be who he was and where he was.
59 reviews
July 3, 2009
You don't have to be a golf fan to read this book. I really enjoyed this account of Phil Mickelson's 2004 Masters win. Mickelson's memoir is a perfect reminder that with hard work and perseverance, nice guys can finish first.
Profile Image for James Anselm.
1 review1 follower
April 5, 2016
I liked how each hole is explained with some of Phil's life stories that seem to tie in appropriately. You are able to get an idea of how Phil is able to balance his professional life with his personal life, and excel at both.
Profile Image for Evan Grice.
105 reviews
May 2, 2024
Not a golf guy but this was a good, easy read. If I liked golf I’m sure the rating would be better, cause I definitely got bored during the parts of the book that were really golf-heavy. Regardless, good book.
Profile Image for Mike.
259 reviews8 followers
September 7, 2009
One of the most inspirational books I've ever read. It'a about far more than golf.
Profile Image for Douglas.
182 reviews164 followers
February 12, 2010
Its not about the goal, but how you go about trying to accomplish the goal. The usual stuff about the journey.
Profile Image for Beverlee.
527 reviews
June 26, 2011
Easy to read in one sitting story of Phil...his life stories interspersed with his memories of the day he won "The Green Jacket".
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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