Is retirement on the horizon for Phil Mickelson? LIV Golfer says he’ll “step aside” to let new blood “take the HyFlyers to new levels” if decline persists

With six major championships and 45 PGA Tour victories in the trophy cabinet, Phil Mickelson is undoubtedly one of the best ever players to pick up a club.

And though his move to LIV Golf certainly left some wondering about his legacy, only the most uncharitable and unknowledgeable could fail to recognise Lefty’s impact on the wider game.

The oldest player to get his hands on one of the big four trophies, after winning the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island a month short of his 51st birthday in 2021, Mickelson’s career has spanned more than 30 years.

But all things come to an end, and the now 54-year-old has been hinting he may step aside if his form doesn’t improve. Could Phil Mickelson retire?

In a recent press conference promoting LIV Golf’s event in Chicago next month, he was popped the future prospects question. And he conceded the sands of time might be running out.

“I am realistic with where I’m at,” he said. “I’m 54 and I’m putting in the work. I also have a unique opportunity because of the fact that physically I’ve been able to withstand injuries and been able to be in better shape to do something at an age that nobody else has done, but I have not played at that level that I need to.

“I see glimpses and my teammates see glimpses of me being where I expect to be able to compete at level. But I’m also realistic with myself, and if I’m not able to I’ll step aside and let somebody come on in and take the HyFlyers to new levels.”

Phil Mickelson retire: Is time running out for this legend of the game?

There has not been much of late to cheer. At 44th in LIV Golf’s season-long standings, he’d be in relegation trouble if he wasn’t a captain. He’s finished inside the top 20 in just one of the breakaway Saudi league’s events this year – when he was tied 6th at LIV Jeddah.

That was actually his best performance in 33 LIV tournament starts and he’s currently way down their statistics list in fairways hit and, crucially, scrambling.

He has only one top 10 in the majors since his PGA victory – as an improbable runner-up finish at the Masters in 2023 – and has missed four of the last six cuts.

At The Open at Royal Troon, where he so narrowly failed to claim a second Claret Jug in 2016, he could only tie for 60th.

Phil’s major win, though, does give him some eligibility. He can play at The Open until he’s 60, the Masters until he decides he no longer wants to tee it up, and he can compete in the PGA Championship until 2031.

“I’m in every major on the regular tour next year, and I’ll be in three of the four majors for the next six, seven years,” he said.

“I would love to compete and give myself a chance to win in those, and I also want to build this out and create a culture that is sustainable and that people strive to be a part of.

“How I do that, whether it’s internally as a player and so forth, or whether it’s strictly from the outside, I’m going to be intricately involved with the HyFlyers going forward probably the rest of my life, and then my playing career I’ll be realistic where I’m at too.”

Mickelson could normally have expected to transition full-time into the senior circuit and the left-hander initially dominated – picking up four victories on PGA Tour Champions between August 2020 and November 2021.

But the ongoing schism between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour has blocked that avenue for now and, even if the two warring parties finally come to an agreement, it remains to be seen how, or if, Mickelson would compete in that sphere again.

So it might be a case of catch him on the course while you still can.

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