As the struggles of Phil Mickelson in Saudi Arabia appeared to spill over into his showing at the PGA Championship, questions now remain over his long-term future in the sport

Phil Mickleson’s struggles on the LIV Golf circuit translated to events at Valhalla as the veteran star failed to make the cut at the PGA Championship – as questions remain over his long-term future in the sport.

The six-time major championships winner has previously acknowledged that he is currently in the twilight years of a glittering career on the world stage. The American star has failed to make an impact since leaving the PGA Tour to join the breakaway circuit and is currently 39th in the LIV Golf individual standings.

Appearing at the PGA Championship, which he won as recently as 2021 at Kiawah Island as the oldest victor in history, the 53-year-old failed to make the cut, with Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm suffering the same fate. A two-time victor at the event, Mickelson opened with 74 before following this with a one-over 72 – ending four-over part to end his stay in Valhalla early.

It now remains to be seen whether Mickleson’s appearance at the tournament will form part of a long goodbye from playing at the highest level. Speaking previously, he has admitted that he does already have one eye on the future as he weighs up his options for life beyond the tee.

He informed Bloomberg TV earlier this month: “I’m 53 now and my career, you know, if I’m being truthful it’s toward its end, while also making a telling remark about his potential next steps, saying: Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfilment that the game of golf has provided me.”

Mickelson’s biographer, Alan Shipnuck also claimed that the veteran star could sign as a non-playing captain if he is to negotiate a new deal with LIV in the future. With team captains having signed deals for four years in 2021, the opportunity for fresh terms may be reached by the close of 2025.

Phil Mickelson during the second round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club

He previously outlined his one last hope for his career, saying: “Winning the US Open has been a lifelong and elusive dream, and I’ve come close so many times. You can’t win if you don’t play. I’m honoured and appreciative of the USGA for the opportunity and look forward to playing in my hometown on a golf course I grew up on.”

Speaking at Singapore earlier this month, Mickelson’s focus seemed to be on the development of the LIV circuit, as he acknowledged: “I think there’s a lot of things that are going to transpire over the next five or 10 years. I’m very bullish and excited about what that means for LIV Golf.

“But there’s also a lot of uncertainty. I think the things that I do know is I think the quality of the players will continue to get better each year. I think that the ability and the sites that we move throughout the world will continue to excite players and excite fans.

The American added: “We’ll be going to more countries outside of the United States that really are starving for world-class professional golf, and we’ll have a lot more receptions like we had at Adelaide [where LIV played last week].”