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Phil Mickelson Vows to ‘Step Aside’ from LIV Golf Team If…

Published

6 months ago

August 9, 2024

Amid his recent struggles, Phil Mickelson revealed he would be willing to stop competing for LIV Golf if he doesn’t start playing at the level he’s been used to over his legendary career.

The 54-year-old captain of the HyFlyers team has just one top-20 finish on the breakaway circuit in 2024 and has missed the cut at two of the four majors this year. Per ESPN, Mickelson said during a call previewing LIV’s Sept. 13-15 Individual Championship at Bolingbrook Golf Club that his lackluster play has him considering stepping away for a bit.

“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,” he said on the call.

Mickelson was one of the first and most prominent golfers to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf in 2022 when he received a reported $200 million contract. The six-time major champion, who also owns an equity stake in the company, went on to add that he’s comfortable taking some time away from the HyFlyers if it’s beneficial to the 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,” he said. “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.”