Phil Mickelson has not played on the PGA Tour since joining the LIV Golf Invitational Series in 2022, and it appears he has no plans to return any time soon

Phil Mickelson seems to have no intention of returning to the PGA Tour, despite a warm invitation from major winner Wyndham Clark.

Mickelson was at the forefront of a high-profile departure to the controversial LIV Golf league in 2022, seemingly severing his over three-decade-long relationship with the PGA Tour. However, last June, a potential path for reconciliation was revealed when the Tour and LIV’s financial backers, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, disclosed a preliminary agreement.

More than a year after this initial announcement, the two parties have yet to finalize an agreement, but once they do, it’s

Clark, who chose to reject LIV’s offer and stick with the PGA Tour, shared his thoughts on the matter during the No Laying Up Podcast. While he doesn’t think every LIV golfer should return to the PGA Tour, he believes a select few, including Mickelson, should have that privilege.

“I think it depends on who it is,” Clark said, considering the idea of LIV players making a comeback. “I think guys that have had the career where they should be lifelong PGA Tour players, I think they deserve the right to come play the PGA Tour.

“If Dustin Johnson wants to come back and Phil Mickelson and guys that have won, Brooks [Koepka], who have won majors and are most likely hall of famer. They deserve to play wherever the hell they want, because they’re so good.

However, despite this conciliatory tone, Mickelson appears content with his decision to join the breakaway circuit. In a statement made last year, he revealed that he and his fellow LIV members have no interest in returning to the PGA Tour.

Mickelson was one of the big names lured to LIV ( Image: Getty Images)

Mickelson took to X in July to declare, “Not a single player on LIV wants to play PGA Tour. ” He added that any potential return would require a public apology and restitution for the negative media coverage LIV players received. Instead, he suggested discussing potential sanctions for players who have since joined LIV.

Mickelson reiterated his stance on a potential merger, stating that he sees no better scenario than continuing to play on the LIV schedule. “Rather than saying yes or no,” he commented, “I know that from a player experience, all of the difficulties and challenges and things that take a lot of excessive energy and output throughout the week have been fixed at LIV.

He praised the player experience on LIV, saying, “So the player experience here is incredible. I just can’t envision a better scenario for me as a player than playing out here on LIV.”

Throughout his PGA Tour career, Mickelson has earned an impressive $96,685,635 in prize money, second only to his longtime rival Tiger Woods. He is also tied for eighth on the all-time winners list, with 45 Tour victories to his name.