Phil Mickelson won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship

There are no shortcuts on the path to greatness, but there is certainly a roadmap.

Phil Mickelson knows this better than most. Over the span of his quarter-century in golf, he’s seen all manner of failure and success from his peers on the PGA Tour. Lefty knows that no two paths look the same, share the same memories, or even the same emotions.

In fact, if there is a common thread between the most successful players on earth, it’s in their traits. Traits like competitiveness, mental toughness, and work ethic.

On Saturday, Phil was signing autographs after his round at the PGA Tour Champion’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship when he was approached by a fan named Jacob Vanderpas. Vanderpas, who is currently competing on the Outlaw Tour, wanted to know what advice a six-time major champion would give to PGA Tour hopefuls everywhere, himself included.

Mickelson shot a 6-under 65 at Phoenix Country Club, getting up and down from short of the par-5 18th for birdie to reach 19 under. He joined Jack Nicklaus as the only player to win four of his first six PGA Tour Champions starts.

Langer, who battled back pain all weekend, struggled getting putts to fall as he labored through a 2-under 69. The 64-year-old German finished at 12 under and had to wait for Jim Furyk to see if he would win the Schwab Cup for the fifth time in seven years.

Furyk needed to win the tournament or tie for third and have Langer end up worse than eighth to win his first PGA Tour Champions series title. He dropped in a long birdie putt on the par-4 17th to pull within 2 shots of the lead, but Mickelson's birdie on No. 18 made it 3 shots.