Phil Mickelson has dropped a retirement hint over his future in LIV Golf (Image: Getty)
Phil Mickelson has one top-20 finish on the LIV Golf circuit this season, but has also made the cut at two of the four majors in 2024 as he considers his future
LIV Golf sensation Phil Mickelson has dropped a hint that he’s already plotting his next moves for when he hangs up his clubs, as the 54 year old contemplates stepping back due to a slump in performance.
Despite only managing one top-20 finish on the LIV Golf circuit this season, the six-time major victor made the cut at half of the majors in 2024. Mickelson, who made headlines with his switch from the PGA Tour to the Saudi-backed league in 2022 after inking a deal rumored to be worth $200 million, expressed his readiness to bow out once he feels he can’t keep up with the competitive standard he sets for himself.
“I see glimpses and my teammates see glimpses of me being where I expect to be able to compete at this level, 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,” said Mickelson, captain of the HyFlyers team.
“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 has previously hinted at retirement from the LIV tour, stating in March: “I’m 53 now and my career, you know, if I’m being truthful it’s toward its end. Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfilment that the game of golf has provided me.”
Mickelson has lifetime eligibility for the Masters and PGA Championship, and can compete in The Open until the 2031 tournament when he’ll be 61 years old. However, his eligibility for the US Open will expire after next year’s tournament.
Knowing his time at the top level of the sport is limited, the legendary left-hander may consider retiring from playing. If he does, he’ll remain a part-owner of the HighFlyers team and likely assume a behind-the-scenes role within the team or possibly with LIV. Merger discussions between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the European Tour are ongoing. Mickelson claims he’s not involved in these talks or aware of the potential scheduling framework once a deal is reached.
“I’m not part of those conversations. At 54, my schedule and my desires are going to be totally different than most of the players,” Mickelson said. “So 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 and not just focus on a 54-year-old, so my desires aren’t really relevant, I would say, in that conversation.”
Mickelson parted ways with the PGA Tour after many years of disappointment, insisting he enthusiastically backed the Tour’s success.
“For 30-plus years I did everything I could to help build the PGA Tour brand, and I would be brought in to help close the deal with many CEOs when they were on the brink of potentially signing a deal, whether it was Bob Diamond at Barclays, it was Rick Waddell at Northern Trust, it was the guys at Shell, Marvin Odom,” he stated.
“There were about seven to 10 times that I would come in and try to close the deal. That was my way to help trying to build the PGA Tour at that time. I’m no longer part of the Tour.”
