Phil Mickelson has taken to social media to reveal more ‘great players’ from the PGA Tour will continue to join LIV Golf in 2025. 

LIV Golf sent shockwaves around the sport at the end of 2023 when they confirmed the signature of former World No.1 and two-time major champion Jon Rahm.

It is understood Rahm signed on the dotted line for a reported $600m in a five-year deal.

Rahm has yet to register a single individual title in the first half of the LIV Golf season.

Other major champions who have made big money-moves from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf over recent years include Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed.

LIV Golf seems to be in big trouble. The breakaway league’s persistence in sticking to its ways of promotion and relegation-less, 54-hole mix of individual and team events is against the OWGR’s guidelines. Considering the OWGR’s stringent stance in rejecting the Greg Norman-led league’s calls for inclusion, major championships are readily slipping away from the fingers of his pack of golf pros.

This has paved the way for the absence of many of its famous faces from the upcoming PGA Championship. Flushing It on X posted an ironic post where it was highlighted that despite the humongous purse, not even one golfer who compared in Singapore could qualify for the season’s second major. On the contrary, the Volvo China Open, a DPWT event with almost a 10-time smaller purse, had several players such as Adrian Otaegui qualify for the upcoming showdown at Valhalla.

“LIV can have the grandest of plans for their future, but getting players access to major championships should be their number one priority,” wrote Flushing It. However, famous LIV Golf flagbearer Phil Mickelson did not seem to agree and wrote “FAAFO.” For him, while the absence of LIV players might not be felt right now, it will be later on. Why? Mickelson had clear reasons.

With the increasing number of PGA Tour and DPWT pros defecting to the circuit including the likes of Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and Adrian Meronk, it will only be a matter of time before other pros join the Saudi-funded league. Additionally, the major championships have to become answerable to sponsors and television for a lot of things if the field continues to become less powerful.

Lefty posed a vital question and asked whether LIV golfers would be missed at the major championships at all if they didn’t play at all. Golf lovers seemed to blatantly disagree with Mickelson and had a plain answer to this question.

While many opined that it was the undoing of the pro and his circuit’s own decisions, others were quick to circle back the blame to the LIV golfers cast out of the system. So what did fans exactly have to say?

Fans react to Phil Mickelson’s counter to LIV Golf’s emergency

One fan wrote, “You have two tours with different models. One has players building a legacy and the other has players building a bank account. Each player has made their own decision which objective is more important to them. They need to stop trying to have both.” Pointing out the long-standing debate on the re-entry of LIV Golf defectors into the system, this fan’s comment screamed volume. According to them, the golfers who have chosen to stay out of the majors out of their love for the big bucks should stop whining because it was their own decision. The fan suggested that it was time the LIV Golf players stopped trying to make up for the losses they signed up for.

Another Twitter user pointed out, “lol. You’re an egomaniac,” giving a strong name to Phil Mickelson’s claims. According to them, the idea that LIV golfers will eventually bring the major championships on their knees did not sit right with this fan and they promptly laughed it off.

United States Golf Association boss Mike Whan says he will proudly welcome LIV Golf players with ‘open arms’ to the third major of the year.

Whan made the comments in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated.

When LIV Golf officially launched in June 2022 one immediate question was how the governing bodies of the four majors would react.

It was clear that LIV had upset the status quo.

For evidence of that, consider the fact Martin Slumbers, the R&A chief executive, stated LIV was ‘not in the best interests of the game’ before the landmark 150th Open at St Andrews.

His thoughts were later echoed by the PGA of America boss, Seth Waugh, who was not happy with the ‘division’ that LIV created.

And the green jackets at Augusta National weren’t too pleased, either.

Whan also hit the headlines when he said he didn’t think people cared about LIV.

“And I don’t see how it’s a survivable business model,” he said.

He was memorably called out by Phil Mickelson last May after the USGA altered their qualifying criteria which had a direct impact on one of their players.

Talor Gooch had qualified for the 2023 major thanks to advancing to the 2021-2022 Tour Championship at East Lake but was banned by the PGA Tour after he bolted to LIV.

The slight word change by the USGA for their qualifying criteria meant Gooch missed out as qualifying via the Tour Championship was taken away.

“Total d— move by Whan,” blasted Lefty on X.

“The USGA is not the PGA Tour,” added Mickelson.

“His PGA Tour suspension has nothing to do with the USGA. The rule clearly stated he qualified via Tour Championship.

“He did not have to play. Whan changed the rule six months after the fact to exclude him. Like I said, a d— move.”

Fast-forward to 2024 and, although LIV do not have a direct pathway to the majors via their league or world ranking points, the powers that be are not fussed about the prospect of LIV players in their fields.

They just have to qualify.

“One of the advantages we have versus most other championships in golf is, a lot of other championships call themselves open but we are the most open, meaning half of the spots in the U.S. Open are not held and are going to be filled by qualifying players,” Whan told SI.

He added: “There is a good chunk of LIV players and other major winners who are already in and have played since LIV started playing and we’re proud of that.

“But there are a lot of great players on the DP World Tour, the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour, and the Asian Tours that aren’t in either and they have to go play 36 holes and try to qualify.”

There are nine LIV Golf players in the field for the forthcoming PGA Championship, which will be staged at Valhalla Golf Club over 16-19 May.

When the U.S. Open heads to famed Pinehurst No.2 a month later, LIV will be represented in the field by Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Martin Kaymer, Mickelson, Cameron Smith, Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk

On an otherwise quiet Saturday, Phil Mickelson hints at retiring and LIV Golf chief Greg Norman takes a swipe at golf traditionalists. In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, Mickelson, 53, stuttered before answering about when he might retire, then said his career was “towards its end.”

Meanwhile, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman suggested the league’s naysayers and golf traditionalists are out of touch. Norman suggested an “18 year old” that was constantly “tuning in” on their phone for a few seconds at a time is more representative of golf’s future than the viewer that more commonly watches a golf tournament for hours on television.

Phil Mickelson for the Love of the Game

Big money aside, golf has not come easy for Phil Mickelson since he jettisoned to LIV. As we wrote in February, “the only truly great golf we’ve seen from him over the last two years was his final-round 65 at last year’s (2023) Masters, which vaulted him into a tie for second with fellow (LIV Golf) defector Brooks Koepka.” Maybe it’s no surprise, then, that the continued acrimony from the PGA versus LIV Golf battles, his poor showings, and age are all taking their toll.

From his interview, Mickelson sounds downright wistful. “There are moments when you’re on a golf course alone, and you have this solace and you’re at peace. There are so many great things about this game of golf, and I would love others to experience those things.” Does he have regrets? Perhaps, but he did not speak to those. At 50 years and 11 months, he became the oldest winner of a major when he scored victory at the 2021 PGA Championship. And his 2023 Master’s showing may have been Phil’s final hurrah. Might fans get to see Mickelson on the PGA Tour Champions, the senior league? Would he want that? Would he be allowed?

Greg Norman for the Future of the Game

Whereas Phil Mickelson is looking back at his past, Greg Norman appears focused solely on the future. In a sit down interview with Bloomberg’s Business of Sports, Norman aggressively took aim at what he implies is the hypocrisy of those calling out LIV Golf’s impact on the game. In particular, those suggesting that because of LIV, tournaments no longer have all the best players competing against one another. “That never happened anyway. Right? I was (the) number one player in the world. Very seldom did I go and play in the United States or Europe or Asia or anything. Did I play against the best in the world outside the four majors and maybe the TPC? They’re the five, right? So very, very seldom did that happen.”

Norman also made no apologies about the money LIV Golf–and the Saudi Wealth fund–are injecting into the sport. “What we have done brilliantly is injected more capital. Golf is finally looked upon as an asset class.” Norman also suggested that, much like how NASCAR owns many of the tracks it races on, and a few MLB teams are turning stadium sites into economic centers, LIV Golf will attempt something similar. “Think about LIV owning all their own golf courses, each team having a home venue (which) they host. And now you can build out around that. It’s not just a golf course. You bring in education, you bring in hospitality, you bring in real estate, you bring in merchandise.”

These may prove to be wise investments by Norman, but for now, even LIV Golf stars continue to focus on PGA majors.

The 124th US Open is all set to take place at Pinehurst No. 2 from June 13 to 16. The field is filled with exciting players, including fresh faces and old champions. Among those playing is the 15-time Major winner, Tiger Woods, whose exemption ran out last year. Expectedly, he received a special exemption and has accepted it too. This move has drawn significant criticism.

Well, that isn’t the topic of discussion here! The question is, does Tiger Woods’s arch nemesis, Phil Mickelson, also need a special exemption to compete at the third major of the year? The simple answer is, no! Why? Well, all thanks to this last major win!

Phil Mickelson‘s 2021 PGA Championship victory guarantees him a spot in the US Open until 2026. With his victory at Kiawah Island, Lefty became the oldest major winner in golf’s history at 50 years old. Although he has won six majors, Mickelson is still pursuing his career Grand Slam. After an astounding six runner-up finishes in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2013 in the tournament he most desires, his only remaining objective is to win the US Open.

In his 32 starts in the event, he has made 26 cuts. In the last two editions of the US Open, Lefty has not been able to make it to the weekend. He shot 11 overs and 3 overs in 2022 and 2023, respectively, to miss the cut. Although fans would see Mickelson on the greens this year, teeing up at all the remaining majors, he hinted that he might be hanging up his clubs soon!

Is retirement on the horizon for Phil Mickelson?

The golfer recently divulged some details about his future to Bloomberg TV. “I’m 53 now, and my career, you know, if I’m being truthful, is toward its end,” Mickelson admitted. However, he expressed his desire to stay involved, stating, “Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game of golf has provided me.” 

Despite his lack of victory on the LIV, Mickelson’s impact as the HyFlyers franchise’s skipper is indisputable. Following his victory in LIV Adelaide, teammate Brendan Steele acknowledged Mickelson’s mentoring, saying, “I lean on Phil pretty hard with everything… He’s one of the best players ever, and he can give me advice. If he’s going to give me advice, I’m going to take it.”

According to Alan Shipnuck, the 53-year-old’s next contract could involve a non-playing captain position with the HyFlyers. As he shifts to more of a mentoring role, Mickelson appears committed to sharing his knowledge to support the development of the next generation, whether he is playing or not. As team captain, he has already proven to be a valuable leader.

As the US Open approaches, we see the two legends, who once dominated the field but are now in the latter half of their careers, contemplating the future. While it is not very likely that either of them wins, it is guaranteed that the legends only need to make an appearance to steal the show! But in golf, tables can truly turn anytime!

The golf world has witnessed Phil Mickelson build his legacy for the last 32 years. Since making his debut in 1992, Lefty has been an extraordinaire in golf and outside of it. So when he joined the PIF-backed league, his legacy was expected to grow more on the business side as well; after all, Mickelson was the very first defector and a LIV Golf purist.

However, recently, it was revealed that Lefty doesn’t have as much of a say in LIV Golf’s workings, unlike Tiger Woods, who had been a prominent spokesperson for the PGA Tour. Despite both having a profound legacy, Mickelson was kind of ignored by Greg Norman and Co. Amidst his diminishing power in LIV, the 53-year-old made an astounding confession about soon leaving the greens!

Phil Mickelson hints at a near-retirement

In a soon-to-be-released interview with Bloomberg’s Haslinda Amin, Phil Mickelson was spotted sporting the white HyFylers GC hat as he delved into various intriguing topics, particularly concerning his career trajectory and his envisioned role in the future of golf.

From the 90s to the 00s, Lefty was undeniably one of the forces on the greens to be reckoned with. In the 47-second snippet released on Bloomberg’s X account, one can see Mickelson is not afraid to accept the reality that he is now entering a new phase in his professional life. Talking about his future, Lefty revealed, “I’m 53 now and my career, you know, if I’m being truthful it’s toward its end.” Maybe in a year or two, Lefty would not play professionally.

However, not in the sense that he would remove golf altogether from his life. But instead of playing it professionally, Lefty would focus more on helping fellow golfers. Mickelson said, “Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game of golf has provided me.” Over the past four decades, Lefty has been an inspiration for many, including Akshay Bhatia, who called him a “big brother” and Jon Rahm, who had always been in Mickelson’s circle.

The three-time Masters winner would like to follow the same path and make more people love golf as much as he has. From the chaos of the outside world, golf had been a safe space for Mickelson. And talking about how at times the game has made him feel, the 53-year-old narrated a few instances where he felt fulfillment from golf.

Mickelson may retire but he would never leave golf

There have been moments when Phil Mickelson would make a headline for all the different reasons. Including the time when he called the PGA Tour “obnoxious” or when his gambling addictions were made public. Throughout the good and bad days, Lefty revealed that golf has given him peace. He expressed, “There’s moments where you’re on a golf course alone, and you have this solace. It’s very solitude and you’re at peace.”

Not just that, the 45-time PGA Tour winner explained that golf has been a major part of his life and has, in a way, made him enjoy his relationships with friends and family more. Playing with his close ones, through club championships or junior events, or with the best talents in the world, Phil Mickelson reiterated, “All of that creates such fulfillment. There’s so many great things about this game of golf and I would love others to experience those things.” 

So Lefty might leave the professional circuit but his relationship with golf will surely be undying!

Phil Mickelson has admitted he is nearing the end of his playing days after the HyFlyers captain opened up on his future ahead of LIV Singapore this week.

Mickelson stands as one of professional golf’s greatest ever players during his career, winning 45 PGA Tour titles and six major championships.

The American split opinion in 2022 though, pledging his support behind the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) before eventually joining LIV Golf. Since making the Saudi switch just under two years ago, Mickelson has failed to find the form that made him an all-time great on the PGA Tour, but has banked almost £5 million in prize money in that time.

Having broken into the top-30 on just on occasion so far this season on the LIV circuit, the World Golf Hall of Famer gave an honest assessment of his future.

“I’m 53 now and my career, you know, if I’m being truthful it’s toward its end,” Mickelson told Bloomberg TV in Singapore. Revealing what may come next, he went on: “Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfilment that the game of golf has provided me.”

When joining Greg Norman and co on the Saudi-backed series in 2022, Mickelson signed a three-year deal. Following the end of the 2024 campaign and heading into 2025, this contract is set to come to an end, and it remains to be seen what sort of extension follows for the three-time Masters champion.

The American will most likely remain with the LIV setup, having founded and captained the HyFlyers franchise over the past two years.

Mickelson’s biographer Alan Shipnuck reported in February that ‘Lefty’s’ next deal could well be a non-playing captain one, keeping him in post as the man in charge of the HyFlyers. Mickelson is yet to get his hands on a LIV title, in both individual and team competition.

LIV Golf’s Phil Mickelson has revealed retirement from the game is now very much on the cards for him, following an interview with Bloomberg TV. 

At 53 years old, Mickelson hinted the curtain is slowly drawing on a career that has heralded six major titles and 45 PGA Tour titles, the latter of which places him eighth on the all-time list.

Lefty just needs to win the US Open to complete the career grand slam, so perhaps things are written in the stars.

But given Mickelson has chalked up just one top-10 finish on LIV Golf so far this season, the fairytale ending to his career is unlikely, or so you would think.

Especially after Mickelson’s latest comments in an interview for an upcoming episode of Latitude with Haslinda Amin.

Mickelson told Bloomberg TV:

Mickelson rewrote the record books in 2021 when he became the oldest major champion in history aged 50 following a second career US PGA title.

He then sent shockwaves around the sport a year later when he labelled the Saudis as ‘scary motherf******’ in a controversial interview with biographer Alan Shipnuck.

That came shortly before he accepted a huge reported $200m fee to leave the PGA Tour and join the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf circuit.

Mickelson is lining up in this week’s LIV Golf Singapore event, the last tournament he will play in before the US PGA at Valhalla from 16-19 May.

He finished T43 in the first major of the season at The Masters last month.

Phil Mickelson, never lacking in confidence, for better or worse, had trouble with the sentence.

He’s considering retiring, but it took him a while to find the words to say it.

“I’m 53 now,” Mickelson said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”

The six-time major winner, now one of the faces of Saudi-backed LIV Golf, offered the revelation during an interview for an upcoming episode of Bloomberg TV’s “Latitude with Haslinda Amin.” On Thursday, Bloomberg shared a 47-second video of the interview, which you can watch here, and published a story co-written by Amin and Giles Turner, which you can read here.

This week, Mickelson is playing LIV’s event in Singapore, and in a media session on Thursday morning, he made no mention of retirement. Notably, the session was lighter — at one point, he was asked about being “the OG of golf viral videos,” which drew this response:

“No, I just say a lot of stupid s**t that goes viral.”

Later in the press conference, Mickelson was asked where he sees LIV in the next five to 10 years, and he was mostly vague.

“I think there’s a lot of things that are going to transpire over the next five or 10 years,” he said. “I’m very bullish and excited about what that means for LIV Golf.

“But there’s also a lot of uncertainty. I think the things that I do know is I think the quality of the players will continue to get better each year. I think that the ability and the sites that we move throughout the world will continue to excite players and excite fans. We’ll be going to more countries outside of the United States that really are starving for world-class professional golf, and we’ll have a lot more receptions like we had at Adelaide [where LIV played last week].

“With Singapore and the tourism department getting involved and loving the event that transpired last year and wanting us to come back, that seems to be the case right now where a lot of countries are negotiating and trying to get a LIV event there. So I see the global game of golf growing at an extremely high level.