Phil Mickelson has said he would offer to “step aside” to allow other golfers to break through after admitting his struggles in recent years.
The 54-year-old has been in wretched form since joining the breakaway LIV Golf circuit in 2022 when he signed a reported $200million contract, captaining the HyFlyers team, in which he has an equity stake. And the oldest major winner at the age of 50 years, 11 months and seven days when lifting his second PGA Championship crown, has confessed he is facing the reality of his current game
Aside from a tied second finish in the 2023 Masters, Mickelson’s best finish in a major since his PGA title is a tied-43 finish at Augusta National this year. He’s failed to make the cut in seven of the 12 major tournaments he’s played since claiming his sixth championship title at Valhalla three years ago.
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Mickelson acknowledged his struggles on the LIV tour via a virtual LIV press conference when he was asked about his game and his future in the sport. “I'm realistic with where I'm at,” he said. “I'm 54 and I'm putting in the work.
“I also have a unique opportunity because of the fact that 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.
“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.”
Mickelson will be eligible to play all four majors through 2026, he is set for The Open through 2030 and has a lifelong exemption for the Masters and PGA. He continued that he wants to keep his game sharp to break his own record of becoming the oldest major winner. “I would love to compete and give myself a chance to win in those [majors], and I also want to build this out and create a culture that is sustainable and that people strive to be a part of,” he said.
The Californian stated that he sees himself remaining involved with LIV for life, even when his playing days are over. “How I do that, whether it's internally as a player and so forth, or whether it's strictly from the outside,” Mickelson added. “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 is currently 44th in the LIV Golf standings this year, just five places above the drop zone, after a T34 finish last time at the JCB Golf & Country Club in Rocester, England. In 2023, Mickelson finished 39th in the players’ standings and 34th in 2022.
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