Phil Mickelson has been struggling for form since joining LIV Golf in 2022, and the six-time major champion’s next move with the breakaway league could be a non-playing role.
When Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson’s current league contracts expire, it’s possible that they’ll join Bubba Watson in a non-playing capacity at LIV Golf.
With his loyalty to the Saudi-backed league already established prior to its first event in June 2022, Mickelson was the catalyst for the start of the player exodus from the PGA Tour to the LIV setup. The six-time major winner has been a constant on the circuit ever since, but his playing days may be coming to an end soon.
Alan Shipnuck, the biographer for Mickelson, speculates that the 53-year-old’snextcontract with the breakaway league may be as a non-playing captain.
Greg Norman and company gave a four-year contract to each of the team captains as well as to Talor Gooch, the 2023 individual champion. As stated
In 20 events on the LIV circuit, Mickelson has just two top-10 finishes to his name, having struggled to replicate the form that made him one of the sport’s greatest ever players during his time on the PGA Tour. Two-time Masters winner Watson has faced similar struggles too.
In his first full campaign on the Saudi-backed series, RangeGoats captain Watson has made his way into the top-10 just once, with his best LIV performance coming in Tulsa last May. The former green jacket winner has discussed his future on the circuit previously, having failed to find his best form.
Speaking at LIV Greenbrier last summer, Watson admitted he would be open to taking a non-playing role with the RangeGoats, if it was the wish of his teammates. “I told my team if they don’t think I am good enough to play, they can kick me out and we will put another good golfer in my place.
“I am going to play until they kick me out. I love helping the young guys. They are all trying to be better and also better at golf. I get to influence three golfers in life, they are all parents and young dads. I want to be there for them and if they have a problem, I want to be able to help them.”
In recent years, Mickelson has also promised to give up golf, but there’s a catch. The U.S. Open is the only major championship title the American has not yet won, but one victory will complete his career Grand Slam.
And he would end his playing career there if he could finally cross the finish line in his home Open. In February 2022, he told Golf Digest, “If I win the US Open, I will retire.” That would be my final competition. I won’t have anything more to prove because I will have completed my career Grand Slam.
Mickelson meanwhile has also vowed to retire from golf in recent years, but there is a catch. The American is one victory away from the career Grand Slam, with the U.S. Open the only major championship title he is yet to get his hands on.