Phil Mickelson has been one of the biggest names to leave the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to join LIV Golf – and it appears he may not be the last, according to the 2021 PGA champion
Phil Mickelson has opened up on possible signings for LIV Golf this off-season (Image: Getty)
Phil Mickelson has spilled the beans on the ongoing interest from players on rival tours to jump ship and join him at LIV Golf.
The golf icon, who sparked a mass departure of marquee names from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to the controversial league two years ago, has seen LIV’s lineup go from strength to strength. At the LIV season finale in Miami a year ago, Mickelson let slip that he’s been in talks with numerous players from both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour itching for a chance to make the lucrative leap to the Saudi-backed circuit.
“The reality is, I’ve been fielding calls, as we all have, from players that are free agents to PGA Tour players to DP World Tour players that want to come over,” Mickelson disclosed to the media last year.
Addressing the potential to fill James Piot’s spot after his relegation, the HyFlyers’ skipper revealed: “You know, the spots probably going to be filled by the time the qualifying tournament is here. So if I’m just being truthful, that’s a very real possibility.”
“And even if it is filled, there’s always the possibility of a trade to get him back. There’s ways this could work out. But I think there’s a good chance based on the number of calls that we’ve had that the spot will be filled fairly soon.” Following those comments, stars like Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and Adrian Meronk all made headlines by ditching the PGA Tour for LIV’s greener pastures.
Mickelson’s team has a new addition, Andy Ogletree, who earned his spot after winning the Asian Tour’s International Series of Merit. When asked about similar interest from players on opposing tours during a pre-tournament press conference, Mickelson simply said: “Yes.”
However, the 2021 PGA champion was tight-lipped about any potential talks, responding with a “No,” and a wink when pressed for more details.
Mickelson’s focus is currently on the golf course, leading his HyFlyers in Friday’s quarter-final match against the formidable Torque GC side, which includes an on-fire Joaquin Niemann. The Chilean player, who has won twice on the LIV circuit in 2024, narrowly missed out on the individual title in Chicago this week to Jon Rahm.
Mickelson acknowledges the threat his opponents pose, saying: “I really like the team of Torque. I think they’re an incredible team. Joaco is one of the best players in the game, and I’ve had a chance to play with him a number of times this year, and it’s just impressive watching him play. Then the rest of his team are just really good guys and solid players.”
“I’ve enjoyed watching their success. Our team is looking forward to the challenge, and we haven’t had the year that we wanted to this year, and this is an opportunity for us to showcase what we’re able to do against one of the really strong teams in the league.”