Phil Mickelson Discusses Winning Another Major, LIV-PGA Tour Drama, Being ‘At Peace’ With Exclusion

Phil Mickelson said he believes he can win another Major Championship, discussed drama between LIV and PGA Tour golfers, and being ‘at peace’ with never playing another Tour or Ryder Cup event again in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated.

Once one of the faces of the PGA Tour, Mickelson defected to LIV Golf before the tour’s inaugural season and has been one of the most outspoken members of the Saudi-backed golf promotion since its inception in 2022. But Mickelson, a widely loved golfer (and still one of my favorites), recently sat down to discuss several elements of his role in golf moving forward and what the next few years could have in store for the six-time Major Champion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Winning His Seventh Major

Mickelson still believes, despite his age, that he is in contention for more major championships, and who could honestly blame him? En route to his victory at Kiawah Island at the 2021 PGA Championship, the then 50-year-old Mickelson outlasted a field of the biggest names in golf and outdueled a more-than-game Brooks Koepka, who is a mainstay on major leaderboards. It was his sixth major championship.

But Phil isn’t done yet. Lefty still thinks he has another one in him, and because of his win at the PGA, which saw him hoist his second Wanamaker Trophy, he automatically qualifies for every major for the next three seasons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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He said:

“I’m in every major for the next three years, and I think I have a chance to win one or two more and create these accomplishments that haven’t been done at this stage. I feel like I can duplicate Kiawah.”

Phil said his competitive edge has been complimented by a change in his habits, which have been highly documented over the past few years. With improvements in strength and flexibility, Mickelson believes he is in shape to accomplish things never done by a player in his age group:

“But at 52, my body feels great. Had a great offseason. I feel I’m in really good shape. I’ve never had injuries. I’ve made changes.”

LIV-PGA Drama, Reed-McIlroy Rivalry

After a highly-publicized and widely-overblown interaction between LIV’s Patrick Reed and the Tour’s seemingly volunteered spokesperson Rory McIlroy, which saw a tee flicked in the direction of the Northern Irishman, Mickelson offered his thoughts but remained uninvolved:

“That’s between them. That’s not really my thing or anything I want to get into.”

McIlroy won the Dubai Desert Classic, where the now-infamous tee incident took place, beating Reed by a single stroke thanks to a 15-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole.

No more Tour or Ryder Cups? No problem.

When LIV Golf started and recognizable names like Mickelson, Johnson, Koepka, DeChambeau, and others vacated the PGA Tour to join it, the implications seemed catastrophic. Whether these golfers would compete in Major Championships remained unclear, but misconceptions that the PGA Tour governs the Majors took over when, in fact, the Majors are completely independent and make decisions for themselves.

One by one, the respective Majors came out with statements that refused to exclude LIV players from them, and after Augusta National had seemingly hinted toward counting them out, it announced earlier this year that players from LIV would be able to participate.

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However, PGA Tour events still obviously remain off-limits, and other traditions, like the Ryder Cup, are unwilling to allow LIV players back, at least for the time being.

This was evidently a big blow to some, and Mickelson, who has competed in twelve as a player and one as a co-captain, has no issue with the fact that he may never be a part of a Tour event or Ryder Cup again.

“If I were never to play another PGA Tour event, I’m totally at peace with it.”

Mickelson went on to say that he does believe he could play Tour events as soon as next year, as the lawsuit between LIV and the PGA Tour, which Mickelson dropped out of last year, works its way through the legal system.

“I’ve loved being part of the Ryder Cup as a player 12 times and as a vice-captain once. I’ve had more great experiences than probably anybody. If I’m not a part of it, I’m at peace with that as well. And I’m proud of the role I’ve played in that. And the role in creating change and integrating player input and involvement. Having more continuity from year to year. I like seeing us play our best golf in the Ryder Cup, even if I’m not ever part of it again.”

As far as the big picture goes, Mickelson believes this period will pay dividends in five or ten years:

“It’s a short-term disruption for a long-term gain. That’s all.”

Cover Image Via SkySports