Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has accepted it’s far too soon to try and return to the Ryder Cup picture as the LIV Golf man is ‘too divisive’.
Phil Mickelson has conceded he won’t be Ryder Cup captain any time soon as the LIV Golf man is ‘too divisive’.
Mickelson made the comments in a recent interview on the Pat McAfee show as he promoted the third season of the breakaway tour.
The six-time major champion is in a buoyant mood of late considering Rory McIlroy’s apparent U-turn and a desire by the established tours to strike an agreement that is in the best interest of the game.
According to McIlroy, there should be a “world tour” and LIV should turn into the “IPL of golf,” with four rounds held in the spring and four in the winter.
While Mickelson refrained from commenting on McIlroy’s most recent ideas, he did share his thoughts on who he believes will be leading Team USA at Bethpage Black in 2019.
For years Lefty had been touted to lead the red, white and blue in front of a boisterous New York crowd.
Perhaps with fellow LIV Golf pro and European talisman Ian Poulter as his counterpart.
That will never happen though as Luke Donald has confirmed he will lead Europe in their defence of the Cup in hostile territory.
Mickelson explained: “I don’t feel I’m the right guy to be involved with the team because I’m a very divisive character right now, if you will, and I understand that.
“The players on the PGA Tour, there’s a lot of hostilities towards me, and I don’t feel I’d be the best leader for them.”
Mickelson acknowledged he was going to ‘take some hits’ by being the primary instigator of getting the LIV Golf ball rolling.
“I’m okay with that,” he said.
He added: “And as a divisive individual. I don’t think I’m the best unifier going forward for the Ryder Cup and that’s that’s fine because I’ve had so many great memories with it.”
So who will be Team USA’s Ryder Cup captain?
The PGA of America are yet to announce the man who will succeed Zach Johnson.
Stewart Cink is the favourite, followed by former Masters champion Fred Couples.
Looks like Tiger Woods has ruled himself out of consideration as well.
In December 2023, the 48-year-old stated that his primary focus was safeguarding the PGA Tour’s future.
Woods is a member of a group negotiating with LIV’s financiers to try and establish a new, for-profit golf organization. He also joined the PGA Tour policy board.
Woods responded, “There’s too much at stake,” when asked if he would apply for the position.
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