Leave it to Phil Mickelson to take the stage ahead of LIV’s season-ending championship and drop a truth bomb about how different life feels these days. The 55-year-old six-time major winner says he no longer deals with the “anxiousness” that used to hang over him during his PGA Tour years—and for a guy who built a Hall of Fame career grinding on that circuit, that’s saying something.
Mickelson spent three decades earning 45 PGA Tour wins, navigating sponsor obligations, countless media appearances, and the grind of Tour life. Now, he’s standing in front of reporters in Michigan, telling them he “can’t wait” to get to LIV events. That’s not just a subtle jab at the PGA Tour; it’s Phil saying flat out that all the off-course baggage he used to carry was strangling his love of the game.
“I used to have anxiousness going to a Tour event,” Mickelson said. “I’d go as late as I could. At a LIV event, I come earlier. I can’t wait to get here. The experience from a player’s standpoint, it’s better than I could have ever imagined.”
And if that wasn’t direct enough, he hopped on X to double down, pointing to the “BS” of Tour obligations—sponsors, media, fans—that overshadowed his actual passion for golf. In his words, that shadow is gone now. On LIV, he says, every player feels the same way. That’s his story, and he’s not shy about calling it “indisputable.”
Phil’s Perspective Changed By More Money?
Of course, Mickelson’s life-changing $200 million payday to join LIV in 2022 probably helps take the edge off. He was the very first to make the leap, opening the door for Dustin Johnson and plenty of others to follow. He hasn’t won an event on LIV, but four seasons in, he’s still standing by the decision with zero regrets.
This week, he’s leading his HyFlyers GC into the quarterfinals against Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC. Alongside Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale, and Andy Ogletree, Phil will be looking to finish LIV’s year on a high.
Whether you call it reinvention, relaxation, or just relief, one thing’s clear: Phil Mickelson is a man who feels lighter these days—and he’s not afraid to tell the world why.
