It has been 1,826 days since Phil Mickelson last won a trophy, and the 2025 LIV Golf Hong Kong event might be his chance to make amends. Although the 54-year-old golfing icon is still a favorite with the public, Mickelson has transformed since taking home the 2021 PGA Championship. The enchantment that existed at Kiawah Island is definitely no more. However, Phil Mickelson has seen a steady decrease in his game since joining the LIV Golf League. The 54-year-old lefty is currently ranked 36th, having placed 39th in 2023 and 46th in 2024.

However, Mickelson has recently displayed bursts of ability throughout the Hong Kong tournament, staying within striking distance. The last round pairings were recently posted on Twitter, which has increased speculative activity over his prospects. So, let’s see when Mickelson is teeing up!

When is Phil Mickelson going to tee up?

Phil Mickelson, who starts Sunday’s play just a few shots behind the leaders, is the center of attention as the LIV Golf Hong Kong event nears its conclusion. The final round pairings have been announced by the official LIV Golf Communications Twitter account (@LIVGolfComms), which has confirmed that Mickelson will be teamed with professional golfers Sebastian Munoz of Colombia and Mito Pereira of Chile. This pairing sets up a thrilling final day in which Mickelson fights against younger players in an attempt to secure the long-awaited triumph.

This week, Mickelson has shown glimpses of his former glory, delighting spectators with forceful strokes off the tee and excellent shot shaping around the difficult layout of the Hong Kong Golf Club. Nevertheless, in the last five years, Lefty has had difficulty winning tournaments despite his extensive experience. He has struggled to keep up momentum under pressure and has had trouble with erratic putting. But this week, Mickelson seems more confident, and his performance is stronger.

Entering the last round within striking distance of the leaders, the pressure is on. The Hong Kong course’s design, which is characterized by its quick greens and narrow fairways, may work to Mickelson’s advantage or disadvantage. He might finally experience triumph again if he can use his trademark short-game brilliance and steer clear of expensive errors. It remains questionable if Mickelson will be able to defeat the new players and end his title drought. However, it seems Mickelson planned his strategy this time. So, let’s find out what this strategy is!

What Mickelson discovered during his off-season

For many years, risk-taking and flair have been hallmarks of Mickelson’s game. But in the off-season, he stepped back and analyzed the reasons behind his lack of success. He acknowledged in an interview with Golf Monthly that he needed to adjust his strategy. Mickelson tied for 14th place following the first round of the tournament on Friday with an opening three-under 67 at LIV Hong Kong. Two strokes ahead of a sizable group at five under, Paul Casey holds the lead at seven under. Assuming this continues, Mickelson is likely to be able to attribute it to a new approach he has chosen to implement in 2025.

Following his round, Mickelson remarked, “The way I’m going to have to find another way to win is less 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,” he further added. Following this week, Mickelson will compete in his 32nd Masters, with two more events remaining: LIV Singapore and LIV Miami. Last year, he tied for second at Augusta National, although he tied for 43rd the year before.

Given his newfound clarity going into the final round in Hong Kong, Mickelson’s supporters have cause to hope that this week could finally be the week he ends his title drought. When it counts most, will he remain composed? Or will he be left waiting yet again after another near-miss? The golf world will undoubtedly be watching.