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Phil Mickelson has been ruled out of the first LIV Golf event of the 2025 season.

The Saudi-backed circuit is set to return in Riyadh this week, with the tournament played under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club.

But Mickelson, 54, who captains the HyFlyers GC team, won’t tee it up.

The six-time major champion has confirmed on social media that he has suffered a shoulder injury and will be replace by Asian Tour pro Ollie Schniederjans.

“While preparing for the season, I suffered a minor shoulder injury in the gym last week,” Mickelson wrote in a statement.

“I’m definitely disappointed that I will miss the season opener, but I look forward to playing in Adelaide.

“Ollie Schniederjans will tee it up for me this week and I will be pulling for my teammates from home.”

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Schniederjans, a former world No.1 amateur, was named the priority LIV Golf reserve for the 2025 season in January and lifted silverware for the first time in nine years on Sunday.

The 31-year-old American dominated Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann, Abraham Ancer, and other LIV stars to win the inaugural International Series India at DLF Golf and Country Club.

“It means a lot to me,” Schniederjans said.

“This golf course is very challenging, and back in the day, I would have had a hard time out here, so to come out and shoot those scores now, with everything I have been through, my game is a lot better than it ever was. This was proof this week.

“It was a long process; it took a lot of patience. I did a lot to change my body and swing and had to learn a lot through that process.”

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Meanwhile, LIV Adelaide takes place at the Grange Golf Club next week, with Mickelson eyeing a swift return.

He finished inside the top ten only once last season, a tie for sixth in Jeddah in March.


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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.

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