Phil Mickelson has requested a release from the PGA Tour to participate in the first LIV Golf Invitational event this June.
Via Dan Rapaport of Golf Digest, Mickelson’s agent, Steve Loy, released a statement confirming his request ahead of the June 9-11 event in London. Mickelson is also set to defend last year’s PGA Championship and compete in the U.S. Open.
“Phil currently has no concrete plans on when and where he will play,” Moy said. “Any actions taken are in no way a reflection of a final decision made, but rather to keep all options open.”
There it is—Phil Mickelson has applied to play in the first LIV Golf event series in London. He’s also signed up for the PGA Championship, where he’d be the defending champion. pic.twitter.com/G2lUNdLSCt
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) April 25, 2022
Mickelson hasn’t golfed at a PGA Tour event since missing the Farmers Insurance Open cut in January. The 51-year-old has taken a hiatus since facing backlash for controversial remarks about his interest in the Saudi Arabian-backed league.
While he acknowledged the country’s “horrible record on human rights,” Mickelson said the new league nevertheless represents leverage as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape how the PGA Tour operates.”
Some fans expressed disappointment over Mickelson’s decision, with one saying they’re “very ashamed to have ever been a fan of this man.”
Crazy decision. https://t.co/Vlx6Pv1vhl
— Bob Williams (@WilliamsBob75) April 25, 2022
Super disappointing @PhilMickelson
You had the opportunity to say I’m wrong. #done https://t.co/PORiBJjLJy
— Alex (@WendyGLFR) April 25, 2022
It’s not necessarily surprising it’s just sort of disappointing to see Phil go down (?) like this https://t.co/2yOKul6noC
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) April 25, 2022
Phil was my favorite athlete until this. I was at the pga when he won and I though it was the coolest experience. I am very ashamed to have ever been a fan of this man. I am done https://t.co/Vztj6egx3M
— Penlan Griffiths (@GriffithsPenlan) April 25, 2022
Once one of the game’s most popular competitors, Mickelson could lose some supporters in light of his choice to seek clearance to play for LIV Golf.
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