Since moving to the LIV Golf League, Phil Mickelson’s game has steadily declined. The lefty finished 39th in 2023, 46th in 2024, and the 54-year-old is 36th in the current standings.
After winning the 2021 PGA Championship, Mickelson hasn’t been the same player. The magic that was present at Kiawah Island is firmly a thing of the past.
To be fair to the six-time major winner, age has proven a determining factor. Mickelson’s 2016 Open Championship performance and 2013 display at Muirfield Village are distant memories.
One big issue for Mickelson is distance off the tee. At a time when Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy are pushing new boundaries with the driver in hand, the American has been left behind. Mickelson is currently the shortest hitter on the LIV tour (273-yard average).
And during the off-season, the American realised a new game plan was required.
Phil Mickelson changes LIV Golf gameplan
Speaking after the first round of LIV Golf Hong Kong, Mickelson revealed he’s exploring new strategies to finally land a win in the 54-hole league.
“I think that the last couple years I’ve been kind of fighting it, meaning I’ve been playing not inside myself, trying to overpower a course where I don’t have the speed like the guys with 190.
This off-season, I thought, all right, I’ve got to find another way. I’ve got to find another way to shoot scores and try to beat these guys,” Mickelson said.
“Today was close. I made a lot of birdies. I drove it pretty much in play, not too far off line, but yet I made four bogeys. The way I’m going to have to find another way to win is to make fewer mistakes. I can’t afford to make that many bogeys. But I offset it with some birdies, and I hit a lot of good shots and a lot of good putts. I didn’t put myself so far behind after the first round.
“Tomorrow, I’ve got to come out and eliminate those mistakes, make six or seven birdies, and get back in it for Sunday. I’ve got to find another way because I’m not going to hang with the speed, so I’ve got to find another way.”
Phil Mickelson’s opening round at LIV Golf Hong Kong
Mickelson’s newfound game plan appears to be working well. The three-time Masters champ is three under after his opening round in Hong Kong, four shots back of leader Paul Casey.
The lefty made seven birdies on Friday to card 67. He was, however, let down by four dropped shots, all coming on longer par fours. If Mickelson can tidy up on the more challenging holes, he could finally contend for a LIV title this weekend.
Sebastian Munoz continued his flying start to the season and is tied for second alongside Peter Uihlein, Luis Masaveu and Sergio Garcia. Martin Kaymer and Chieh-Po Lee are on the same number.
Yubin Jang, Danny Lee, DeChambeau, Sam Horsfield, Henrik Stenson and Dean Burmester are all four under. Bubba Watson, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton and Tom McKibbin are among those tied with Mickelson at three under.
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