Phil Mickelson's Absence from LIV Golf Events: A Family Matter
The HyFlyers GC will be without their captain, Phil Mickelson, for the opening of the 2026 LIV Golf season. The six-time major champion announced his absence on Sunday, citing a pressing family health matter.
In a message shared across his social media, Mickelson, 55, explained, "I will not be able to participate in the first two LIV Events as [wife] Amy and I need to be present for a family health matter." He expressed his eagerness to return to competition, stating, 'I can’t wait to compete again and look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible.'
This is not the first time Mickelson has had to miss LIV Golf events due to personal matters. Last year, he was substituted by Ollie Schniederjans, who stepped in as a reserve player during the LIV Golf opener in Saudi Arabia. Mickelson's HyFlyers GC teammates include Michael La Sasso, Brendan Steele, and Cameron Tringale.
The opening tournaments in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Adelaide, Australia, are set to commence on Wednesday and February 12, respectively. LIV Golf's schedule then moves to Hong Kong in early March.
This year marks Mickelson's fifth season on the LIV circuit. His decision to join LIV Golf in 2022 sparked controversy, as he was one of the biggest names to defect from the PGA Tour, alongside Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka.
Koepka, a five-time major winner, recently rejoined the PGA Tour, leaving LIV Golf behind. He made his return this week at the Farmers Insurance Open, making the cut into the weekend. Similarly, former Masters champion Patrick Reed announced his intention to return to the PGA Tour, mirroring Koepka's decision.
The LIV Golf circuit continues to witness a dynamic landscape of player movements, with high-profile names frequently making headlines for their decisions to join or leave the tour.
