Mickelson has struggled on tour since his incredible 2023 round at the Masters ( Image: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
“This year’s going to be an interesting year for me,” declares Phil Mickelson as he looks forward to the upcoming season at LIV Golf. Well, he sure would need it, since the athlete had met with a bumpy patch in the past couple of years, resulting in a below-average display of golf. However, it seems he is ready to turn it all around in 2024.
The LIV golfer, a while back, had gone ahead to express his optimism regarding the upcoming season, which is set to start on February 2nd. However, while doing so, he revealed the effects that the “disruption” has had on his gameplay, all the while divulging the remedial action he took to straighten himself out!
Phil Mickelson comes candid on struggles and recovery
Phil Mickelson, in the interview, disclosed how he has “put in a lot of work in the offseason,” both “physically” and mentally on his “body”, “game”, and “mind”. Adding on, he confessed how “difficult” the past 2 years of “disruption and transition” have been, alluding to the impact it has had on himself. The 53-year-old also divulged how it took “a lot of energy away from my(sic) ability to perform.”
However, the golfer was quick to convey faith in himself as he said, “I believe that I’m in a position to perform at a really high level.” Continuing with his optimism, the 6-time major champ mentioned how “there is an opportunity” for him to dish out a performance like the one he did at the 2023 Masters Tournament, where he finished T2 at 280 (-8) since he has “put in the work” to replicate the same.
‘Lefty‘ also expressed his curiosity as to whether feeling “more free” and “less stress,” as per his teammate Brendan Steele, would enable him to perform at the level he used to in the past. But the athlete said so while emphasizing how the “team aspect” would have brought a lot to him “personally” if that happened.
The HyFlyers skipper sure has his thoughts organized. It was a much-needed process since the past couple of years haven’t been too kind to the 53-year-old.
Mickelson’s LIV Golf career so far
The 45-time PGA Tour champ was only able to finish once inside the top 10 in the 2021–22 season, which came off at the LIV Golf Invitational Chicago at T8 with 210 (-6). Come 2023. Well, it wasn’t much different, as he could only manage a single top-10 finish over the year, once again. However, this time, it came from the Bedminster event, where he finished T9 at 1-under 212 over the three days of play.
His team, during the inaugural season, finished in the eighth position out of a total of 12 places. In the following year, they couldn’t fare better but instead went down a spot to place themselves at T9. Their best finish over the two seasons came back in the 2022 Invitational in Chicago, where ‘Lefty’ dished out his best LIV Golf performance.
If everything goes as per his plans, then HyFlyers GC is sure in for an amazing year ahead with a phenomenal captain leading them. Fingers crossed for Mickelson!
