While Phil Mickelson won his sixth major title less than four years ago, it is fair to say that he has not exactly managed to capture the imagination since moving to LIV Golf.
Phil Mickelson damaged his reputation with how his move to LIV Golf was handled in 2022. Augusta National members even asked Mickelson to not play the Masters that year as they feared his presence overshadowing the tournament. And he did indeed ultimately leave the PGA Tour shortly after.
While the 54-year-old is going attract crowds no matter how he plays, Mickelson has had a poor time on LIV. He has registered just three top 10 finishes across three seasons – with his best result being a tied sixth finish in Jeddah in 2024.
The HyFlyers skipper would end the year down in 46th in the individual standings – just a handful of places above the relegation zone.
Phil Mickelson claims he could do something special on LIV in 2025
So it would certainly appear that Mickelson’s powers are on the wane. But it seems that he feels that he has another big run left in him.
Speaking on the Bryan Bros YouTube channel, Mickelson noted that he is optimistic that he has found something in his game and believes that 2025 could be a fantastic year for him.
“I have not played the way I want to the last couple of years. By having four months off and being able to develop a game-plan, I’ve been able to get to a point where I believe I can play at the level I played in my thirties,” he said.
“I don’t know if that’s going to be the case, we’re going to see heading into this year, but I’m going to really make a push to compete at the highest level. And that means fine tuning all aspects of my game, including driving, including speed, including putting and all that, and getting my short game back to a really sharp high, the highest level. So I think that I could do something special.”
How successful Mickelson was during his thirties
It should be noted that shortly after making that statement, Mickelson would hit a wayward drive and have to take a drop. But obviously, a YouTube match against Wesley Bryan will count for little when the LIV season starts.
It is a remarkable statement from Mickelson – who is not afraid to create headlines. He won four of his major titles during his 30s, with three victories at the Masters. So to get back to anything like that level would be an incredible achievement.
| Phil Mickelson’s major victories during his thirties |
| 2004 Masters |
| 2005 PGA Championship |
| 2006 Masters |
| 2010 Masters |
What you would say is that Mickelson appears to be in better condition than he ever has been and has already proved that he has the kind of longevity so rarely seen within the sport. So he may indeed be able to fight for wins on LIV in 2025.
However, it would truly be one of the surprises of the season if Mickelson reached the bar he has seemingly now set.
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