PHIL MICKELSON MULLS OVER PLAYING CAREER AT LIV
Phil Mickelson has expressed his willingness to step aside from LIV Golf if he can no longer compete at the high level he expects of himself. The six-time major champion made these remarks while discussing the upcoming LIV Golf event in Illinois, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. Mickelson, now 54, was one of the…
Phil Mickelson has expressed his willingness to step aside from LIV Golf if he can no longer compete at the high level he expects of himself. The six-time major champion made these remarks while discussing the upcoming LIV Golf event in Illinois, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.
Mickelson, now 54, was one of the most prominent players to join the LIV Golf circuit in 2022, reportedly signing a $200 million contract. Currently, he serves as the captain of the HyFlyers team, in which he also holds an equity stake.
Speaking ahead of the LIV Golf Individual Championship at Bolingbrook Golf Club from September 13-15, Mickelson acknowledged that while he still sees flashes of his competitive form, he is also realistic about his future in the sport.
“I see glimpses, and my teammates see glimpses of me being where I expect to be able to compete at this level,” Mickelson said, according to a transcript of Wednesday’s press conference. “But I’m also realistic with myself, and if I’m not able to, I’ll step aside and let somebody come on in and take the HyFlyers to new levels.”
Despite his age, Mickelson remains eligible for all the major tournaments on the regular tour next year, and he will continue to qualify for three of the four majors for the next six or seven years. He expressed a strong desire to remain competitive in these events and to continue building a lasting culture within the HyFlyers team.
“How I do that, whether it’s internally as a player or from the outside, I’m going to be intricately involved with the HyFlyers going forward, probably for the rest of my life,” Mickelson said. “But I’ll also be realistic about where I’m at with my playing career.”
Mickelson was also asked about his preferred playing schedule if the PGA Tour and the Saudi backers of LIV Golf finalize a deal to merge commercial operations into a new for-profit entity. He noted that at his age, his schedule and desires are different from those of most other players.
“Bigger picture, we have to do what’s best for the players on LIV and the best for the players throughout the game of golf,” Mickelson said. “My desires aren’t really relevant in that conversation.”
