[PHOTO: Sean M. Haffey]
Phil Mickelson indicated he would step aside from playing should his performance continue to fall short of his desired standard.
Mickelson, speaking at a press conference last week promoting LIV Golf’s Chicago event in September, was asked about his career intentions going forward. Mickelson turned 54 in June, and though his battle against Father Time has been admirable, his game is clearly on the decline. He’s 44th in LIV Golf’s season-long standings, cracking the top 20 of an individual event just once in the Saudi league’s 54-player fields, and his team is 12th out of 13 clubs. He’s finished inside the top 40 just once in his past 12 major starts.
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While Mickelson asserted he’s seen positive developments in his game as of late, he conceded there’s not much runway left.
“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 said. “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.”
Though LIV Golf’s financial backer, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, remains engaged in negotiations with the PGA Tour about unifying the professional sport, it’s unlikely Mickelson would ever return to the tour or its Champions circuit, given his role in the schism and the antitrust lawsuit against the tour. Mickelson can play the Masters and PGA Championship as long as he likes, and can compete in the Open Championship until age 60. He has one year of US Open eligibility left from his PGA win in 2021.
This is not the first time Mickelson has nodded towards retirement, making similar remarks this year. “I’m 53 now, 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,” Mickelson told Bloomberg TV. “Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfilment that the game of golf has provided me.”
