Phil Mickelson will withdraw from LIV Golf if he can’t play at the level he wants, the six-time champion said while watching the upcoming Saudi circuit event in Illinois.
The 54-year-old Mickelson, one of the top names to join the circuit in 2022 when he signed a reported $200 million contract, is the team captain of the HyFlyers, in which he also has an equity stake.
Mickelson, speaking ahead of the Sept. 13-15 LIV tournament at Bolingbrook Golf Club, has finished 20th in the Rebels this season and won two of the four majors in 2024.
“I see glimpses and my teammates see glimpses that I am where I expect to be able to compete at this level, but I also see myself, if I can’t, I will step aside and let someone come. come in and take the HyFlyers to new levels,” Mickelson said, according to a transcript of Wednesday’s news conference.
“I’m in all the majors on the regular tour next year, and I’ll be in three out of four tournaments in the next six, seven years. I’d like to compete and give myself a chance to win in those, and they want to build this and build a stable culture and people who strive to be a part of it.
“How do I do that, whether it’s inside as a player and so on, whether it’s coming from the outside, I’m going to be an integral part with the HyFlyers going forward and maybe for the rest of my life, and I’m going to play my playing career. I’m going to be honest where I am, too.”
Mickelson was also asked what type of playing schedule he would like to see if the PGA Tour and Saudi sponsors LIV Golf ever finalize a deal to combine commercial operations into a new for-profit company.
“I’m not part of those conversations. At 54, my schedule and my desires will be completely different than most players,” Mickelson said.
“The bigger picture is to do what’s best for the players at LIV and what’s best for the players in the entire game of golf and not just focus on the 54-year-old, so my wishes are not really relevant, I would say, in that conversation.”
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