Mickelson finally wakes up in light of LIV Golf playing days possibly being over
Phil Mickelson put in his best performance on the LIV Golf circuit to date last week, after the six-time major champion finished in a tie for sixth at LIV Jeddah.
Mickelson carded a bogey-free three-under-par 67 in Sunday's final round, with his birdies coming at the third, 10th and 18th. It saw him end the Saudi-based tournament at 10-under, tying with a whole host of fellow stars including Talor Gooch, Adrian Meronk and Jason Kokrak.
Whilst his performance saw him finish seven shots behind champion, Joaquin Niemann, it was a much-needed top-10 finish for Mickelson, who has been starved of good form on the breakaway league since joining in June 2022.
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In 23 LIV Golf events, the former PGA Tour legend has just three top-10's to his name, with his previous two coming at Bedminster in 2023, and Chicago the year earlier. Amid his lack of form, a report last month from Mickelson's biographer, Alan Shipnuck claimed the American's playing days on the LIV setup could soon be over.
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The report suggested Mickelson's next LIV contract - with his current deal expiring at the end of 2025 - could be a non-playing one, with the 53-year-old the captain of the HyFlyers. Despite failing to replicate the form that made him an all-time great during his time on the PGA Tour, Mickelson showed last April that he still has what it takes to compete with the best.
Whilst LIV's newly-signed star Jon Rahm was declared Masters champion 11 months ago, Mickelson rolled back the years by enjoying a Sunday surge up the leaderboard. A superb seven-under-par final round 65 saw him finish in a tie for second alongside fellow LIV member Brooks Koepka, four back of Rahm.
Phil Mickelson has struggled for form with LIV Golf (Getty Images)On the back of his runner-up finish last Spring, Mickelson had been going through somewhat of a rough patch on the LIV circuit, having finished outside the top-25 on all three of his outings before heading to the first major of the season last year. On the back of his 2023 Augusta showing though, it showed Mickelson that he was still good enough to compete.
"Yeah, it just reaffirms that I knew I was close," he said at the time. "I've been hitting quality shots. This doesn't feel like a fluke. It wasn't like I hit shots I haven't been hitting. I stayed present and didn't make loose swings or those bad swings at an inopportune time. I stayed very present and calm throughout, then executed and had a blast.
"Like this is so much fun. Again, we're all grateful that we're able to play and compete here, and I think it's tremendous for this tournament to have all the best players in the world here. Then as a past champion, to be able to still be a part of it, it means a lot."
And there is no doubt the HyFlyers captain will be hoping to replicate that performance at this year's Masters in just over a month. Mickelson will play two more events in Hong Kong this week and Miami at the beginning of next month, before making his annual trip to Augusta as a three-time past champion.
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