With the old axiom “never say never” hanging in the late-spring air, it is not hard to see Phil Mickelson’s commitment to the new LIV Golf Invitational Series as a public farewell to the PGA Tour.
It appears to be the cost of doing business in the new Greg Norman-backed enterprise, which begins play Thursday morning near London with the first of eight events that are being sold as “transformative,” whether they turn out to be that or not.
It’s one thing for Dustin Johnson to take the Saudi money and run. It’s something else when Mickelson, arguably one of the most popular players ever on the PGA Tour, forsakes his home tour where he has won 45 times and made nearly $95 million in on-course earnings.
Perhaps Mickelson is getting more than his career earnings to do this, but he’s losing something that can’t be bought: the almost unconditional love of a substantial portion of his massive fan base.
“I can’t believe he’s going to do this. I’m so disappointed,” an avid Mickelson fan told me.
Disappointed?
That’s understandable.
Surprised?
Not entirely.
The announcement Monday that Mickelson was joining Johnson, Sergio García and others in the new Saudi-backed league was hardly a thunderbolt. It has been whispered about for weeks and especially in recent days as the official start date approached. It’s possible Mickelson had little choice about his future.
His PGA Tour status has been unclear since his inflammatory comments about the tour’s “obnoxious greed” and his stake in promoting the rival league surfaced in February, and there have been suggestions that he was so far down the road with the new league that there was no turning back.
Mickelson is a lifetime member of the PGA Tour because of the number of events he has won, but it seems unlikely that he will play there again. In his statement, Mickelson said he intends to play the four major championships, and there’s every reason to believe he will tee it up at the U.S. Open next week, but the days of seeing him at the Farmers Insurance Open, the WM Phoenix Open or the Wells Fargo Championship probably are gone forever.
Though some players, including Kevin Na, are resigning their PGA Tour membership to join LIV Golf, Mickelson did not say in his statement that he has taken such a step. The PGA Tour, meanwhile, has said no players will be disciplined until they begin competition Thursday at Centurion Club after having been denied releases to play in the new event.
Still, Mickelson’s statement read like someone who doesn’t expect to be coming back, at least for a long time.
“I fully realize and respect some may disagree with this decision and have strong opinions and I empathize with that,” Mickelson said in a statement.
“I have a renewed spirit and excitement for the game. I am incredibly grateful for the support of my fans, partners, friends, and peers and I hope in time, those sentiments, relationships, and support continue.”
In other words, he’s all in on LIV Golf, so get used to it.
If the numbers being thrown about are at least close to accurate – a nine-figure guarantee plus earnings in money-stuffed, small-field, no-cut events – the choice between the PGA Tour Champions (remember that Mickelson is closing in on his 52nd birthday) and the LIV Golf series is about one thing: How much do you want?
It’s a decision most of us will never face. Mickelson chose the money.
For more than three months, Mickelson has been away from public view. Golf writer Alan Shipnuck’s book on Mickelson did an excellent job of showing the many sides of Phil, not all of them flattering. Another book, by sports gambler Billy Walters, may reveal more about Mickelson.
In his statement, Mickelson said the time away has allowed for self-reflection that has been “very humbling” and he is working to become a better version of himself. He said he continues in therapy while prioritizing those closest to him.
This is about facing the music, acknowledging mistakes and showing contrition. It’s about being honest about why he’s doing this.
Though he offered a more direct apology in this statement than his previous effort, Mickelson already is selling his new golf life, calling the 54-hole, no-cut events with shotgun starts “transformative, not just for myself, but ideally for the game and my peers.”
It’s too soon to know how many are buying what he’s selling in golf terms.
The new Mickelson arrives this week in England, and while LIV Golf revels in landing the game’s second-biggest star, it’s not the golf that matters for Mickelson at this moment.
Other people have been telling his story. Mickelson has a chance to change the narrative this week, before he comes back to do it all over again next week at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
He has chosen his path, and that’s his prerogative. The question is, how much has he sacrificed to get what he wants?
It comes with a steep price that can’t be paid with all of that Saudi money.
Top: Is Phil Mickelson waving goodbye to the PGA Tour?
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