Leave it to your Sunday foursome or writers or other people to wonder if Phil Mickelson should have won the US Open on Monday at Bethpage.  Having held the lead at one point late in the round, Mickelson made a couple of critical bogeys on 15 and 17 to cost himself the championship.  Lucas Glover held his own in the final round and took advantage of the cushion that the final pairing had over the remainder of the field to take home the trophy.

Glover's victory left Mickelson in a tie for second place.  Mickelson now owns one of the most reviled records in golf.  Lefty has finished as bridesmaid in the Open a record five times.  He has surpassed Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus in the process.

What's more impressive - or perhaps disheartening - is that Mickelson has done finished second five times since 1999, when Payne Stewart held off Mickelson on the final hole at Pinehurst #2. 

The experience set off a subsequent decade of close calls and near misses for Mickelson that have made him the most noted player in the last eleven US Opens.

There was the first time at Bethpage where he was serenaded with birthday wishes while being held at bay by Tiger Woods. 

He was bested in an infamous duel with Retief Goosen in 2004 at Shinnecock Hills.  Were it not for Goosen's incredibly hot putter on the final nine holes - 11 putts total - Mickelson would have won there.

Of course, Mickelson's worst moment in the Open was in 2006 at Winged Foot.  Holding a one stroke lead at the tee of the final hole, Mickelson stayed true to himself and played driver off of the tee.  Five foolish shots later, Mickelson had lost the tournament to Geoff Ogilvy and proclaimed himself an idiot.

Then, there was this year - again at Bethpage.  It was a different circumstance this time.  Mickelson entered the final round a full six shots out of the lead of two inexperienced players.  Playing with a heavy heart, he took advantage of Barnes and Glover returning back to earth - and the field - to earn the lead on the back nine.  But, he could not close the deal.

Since 1999, Mickelson has thrilled us a handful of times with the prospect of winning the national title.  He has missed just one cut in that span and averaged a 14th place finish.  By comparison, Tiger Woods has three wins and two second place finishes in the span.  He averages a sixth place finish, with a missed cut of his own in 2006.

Clearly, Mickelson is not the dominating player of the two - but it sure seems that way sometimes.  Woods has two runner-up finishes largely attributed to Sunday charges that fell short.  He did not have the 54 hole lead in either 2005 or 2007 when he succumbed to Michael Campbell and Angel Cabrera.  Not having the 54 hole lead in a major is the kiss of death for Tiger Woods.  For Mickelson, it is the chance to resume his roll as the underdog and People's Champion.

Aside from his contemporary foil, how does Mickelson's run compare to the greats of the game?

Nicklaus spread his four second place finishes over three decades.  Sam Snead did so over two.  But Jones and Palmer had runs at the Open very similar to Mickelson.  Jones finished second four times between 1922 and 1928. 

The King did so in a shorter span - 1962 to 1967.  Between 1960 and 1971, Arnie had a single win, four runner up finishes, and averaged a fifteenth place finish.  He was the original hard luck hero at the US Open.

Perhaps there are players that are better contemporary comparisons to Mickelson's run. 

The late Payne Stewart had an affinity for the national championship unlike almost any other.  From 1989 to his Pinehurst win in 1999, Payne had two wins, two missed cuts, and finished around 18th when he did make the cut. 

Lee Janzen may have won two Opens between 1993 and 2003, but he never otherwise finished better than a tie for 10th in 1996.

Lest we forget, Colin Montgomerie has a record at the US Open that breaks hearts across the pond.  From 1994 to 2006, Montgomerie finished 2nd three times - and gave away all of those Opens.  In fact, he lost to Ernie Els twice.

How about Tom Lehman?  Starting in 1995, he had a run of four straight years in the final pairing at the US Open on Sunday.  He never won, but had four straight top five finishes in the Open.  His run ended in 2002.  All told, he averaged a finish of 18th place in those eight Opens.

The best modern comparison to Mickelson may well be Jim Furyk.  Furyk has proven time and again that he is built for US Opens.  Starting with his fifth place finish in 1996, Furyk had a win and two runner up finishes through the 2007 Open at Oakmont. 

Of his contemporaries, Mickelson has earned the distinction of hard luck kid at the Open.  The question now is if he can recover from yet another heartbreak at the national championship and one day find a way to win the title.