Phil Mickelson opens up on LIV future

Phil Mickelson has dropped a significant hint over his future on LIV Golf ahead of next week’s event.

The six-time major champion said in May that at the age of 53, his playing career is coming to an end.

And Mickelson, at number 44 in LIV Golf’s season-long individual rankings, has reiterated that belief.

That could mean stepping aside from his playing role on the HyFlyers GC, leaving the door open for a new player to join the roster.

“I see glimpses and my teammates see glimpses of me being where I expect to be able to compete at this level,” he argued.

“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.

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“I also have a unique opportunity because physically I’ve been able to withstand injuries and been able to be in better shape to do something at an age that nobody else has done, but I have not played at that level that I need to.”

Mickelson, however, insists that he would not step down from HyFlyers completely. Rather, as an equity shareholder, he is confident of shaping its future.

“Well, my involvement with the HyFlyers is going to be long-term and probably through the rest of my life,” he said.

“I’m an equity shareholder and I’ll have the ability to be intricately involved in the growing out of the team throughout the course of the next many decades.

“But as far as my career, I’m realistic with where I’m at. I’m 54 and I’m putting in the work.

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“I’m in every major on the regular tour next year, and I’ll be in three of the four majors for the next six, seven years. I would love to compete and give myself a chance to win in those, and I also want to build this out and create a culture that is sustainable, and that people strive to be a part of.

“How I do that, whether it’s internally as a player and so forth, or whether it’s strictly from the outside, I’m going to be intricately involved with the HyFlyers going forward probably the rest of my life, and then my playing career I’ll be realistic where I’m at, too.”

Mickelson made the cut at The Open last month, but his T6 finish at LIV Golf Jeddah in March remains his most recent finish inside the top 20.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.