Phil poprvé přišel na pokerovou scénu v roce 1989, kdy ve věku 24 let porazil obhájce titulu Johnny Chan vyhrál World Series of Poker Main Eventu a jeho první cenu 755.000 dolar. Jeho rekord jako nejmladší vítěz Main Event bude trvat, dokud Peter Eastgate se titul v roce 2008.
Phil first came on the poker scene in 1989, when at age 24 he defeated defending champion Johnny Chan to win the World Series of Poker Main Event and its first prize of $755,000. His record as youngest Main Event winner would last until Peter Eastgate took the title in 2008.