Was Phil Mickelson’s exile forced upon him?
Mickelson — who recently joined the rival Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour — would not confirm nor deny if he was quietly suspended by the PGA Tour while addressing the matter at a press conference Wednesday in London.
“I choose not to speak publicly on PGA Tour issues at this time,” said Mickelson, who has not resigned from the PGA Tour — unlike fellow LIV Golf tour commits, including Dustin Johnson and Kevin Na.
Mickelson, Johnson and Na were part of the 48-man field for the LIV Golf league that will hold its first event beginning Thursday at Centurion Club outside London.
“I’ve gained a lot from the PGA Tour, and I’ve received a lot,” Mickelson said. “I’ve worked really hard to contribute and add value to the tour during my time there. I worked really hard to earn a lifetime exemption, and I don’t want to give that up and I don’t feel like I should have to.
Phil Mickelson at the pro-am for the LIV Golf Invitational Series on June 8, 2022.AP“I don’t know what that means for a future. I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I’ve earned that, and I don’t plan on just giving it up.”
The PGA Tour has threatened suspension, bans and fines for players who made the controversial switch to the LIV Tour. Pros who have done so could be ineligible for future Ryder Cups, as players need to be members of the PGA of America to be considered.
Mickelson — who took a four-month hiatus from competition following his controversial Saudi league comments — said he plans to play in next week’s U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
It comes after Mickelson skipped the previous two majors this year — The Masters, which is considered his favorite tournament, and the PGA Championship, an event he won last year. The 51-year-old said his understanding was “that I was able to play if I wanted to. I just chose not to.” The majors operate outside the PGA Tour, so they could decide Mickelson’s status independently.
Mickelson said he instead stayed away because he felt his game was not sharp enough.
“Every day of the Masters, I skied in the morning and I watched the tournament afterward,” Mickelson said. “I enjoyed watching it. I thought Scottie Scheffler put on an amazing performance there.
“I found myself missing the Masters but not wanting to be there. I had not played. I had not touched a club. I wasn’t in a position to be competitive. But I will always love that tournament, and if I’m not there, I’ll always miss it, but I didn’t have a desire to be there.”
Mickelson apologized for his comments earlier this year, when he told journalist Alan Shipnuck, who was writing a biography about the golfer, that the Saudis are “scary motherf–kers” to get involved with.
Later on in the news conference, Mickelson was asked if he was really receiving $200 million from LIV Golf for his participation in the startup league.
(From left to right) TK Chantananuwat, Justin Harding, Phil Mickelson and Chase Koepka at LIV Golf event press conference. AFP via Getty Images “I feel that contract agreements should be private,” Mickelson said. “Doesn’t seem to be the case, but it should be.”
Sources told The Post that negotiations between LIV Golf and Mickelson’s camp had been going on for weeks and that negotiations completed on Monday.
