‘I’ve Been Fighting..’: Phil Mickelson Comes Clean on Internal Battles Months After Dropping Retirement Hint

Rarely you would find Phil Mickelson struggling to say what he is thinking. Whether he’s taking aim at the PGA Tour’s “obnoxious greed” or championing LIV Golf as the ultimate proving ground for majors, he has always spoken with conviction. But last year, when the conversation turned to his retirement, words didn’t come so easily. “I’m 53 now and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end,” he admitted with his face reflecting the reality that dawned on him. Since making the jump to LIV Golf, the six-time major champion has seen a decline in his game. Competitive performances have been rare, and making the cut at major championships on the PGA Tour has become an uphill battle, especially in the last 16 months. As such, he has discussed the possibility of calling time on his career, even saying that he will “step aside and let somebody come on in,” if the slump continues.

After being the game’s best short-game player for most of his career, he has struggled in that area for the last two years. Despite his efforts to focus on his ball-striking and shot-making abilities, Mickelson admits he’s throwing away shots due to his short game woes, making it harder for him to compete. But with the new season already in full swing, he is determined to find new ways to succeed.

Last year, Mickelson admitted, “It’s been my short game that’s just crushed me the last few years. It’s been a staple of my game throughout my career, and the last couple years it’s been the reason why I have not scored and had the results.” Mickelson has been the face of the Saudi-backed tour since it launched. He landed a reported four-year, $200 million deal that runs through 2025, and while he continues to be a big-name presence for the breakaway league, his performances have left a lot to be desired.

Captain of LIV’s HyFlyers GC, Mickelson had a disappointing 2024, finishing 46th out of 57 players in the individual LIV standings. He recorded only one top-10 finish in the season. Now, as he eyes improvement this season, Mickelson revealed the challenges he’s facing as he navigates the latter stages of his career.

On March 12, the golfer appeared in an episode of the Phil Mickelson and the Hyflyers on YouTube and opened up on the need to evolve his style of play. “My game over the 30+ years has had to evolve and now at 54, I’m not going to be able to swing and hit 190 ball speeds like these young guys. I’m not going to overpower golf courses and use my short game the way I used to.”

Last year, he failed to make the cut at both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, finishing 43rd at the Masters and 60th at the British Open. Since his runner-up finish at the 2023 Masters, he has missed the cut in four of his last seven majors. Over on the LIV circuit, he has just three top 10s in his three years with the league. While some critics argue that Mickelson’s best days are behind him, others believe that his experience and clever course management can still be a potent combination. Mickelson also realizes the need to be more clever when it comes to managing his game.

“I’ve to play a little smarter, a little bit different and that’s kind of what I’ve been fighting the last two or three years, trying to win the same way I’ve been winning. No, I’ve got to find a different way, and that’s what I’m doing heading into the 2025 season. I’m finding a different way to win.”

When you’ve spent three decades perfecting a method that has consistently brought success, abandoning it isn’t easy. Phil Mickelson seems to be grappling with this very challenge as he strives to elevate his game. At 54, reinventing his approach is an even steeper uphill battle, but the pursuit of improvement never truly ends. He succinctly put it, “If I can play well, I can lift my team up and get us on the podium.” These words by Mickelson are pivotal as he knows very well that he is toward the end of his glorious career. In a candid mid-2024 chat with Bloomberg TV, Phil Mickelson didn’t circle around, admitting that the time for his retirement is nearing.

“Look, I’m 53 now, and if I’m being honest, the sunset is creeping up on my career….My career now, if I’m being truthful, it’s towards its end,” he said. Not only this, in August, he said while there have been some glimpses of improvement in his performance, he is “realistic” with himself and noted, “If I’m not able to I’ll step aside and let somebody come on in and take the HyFlyers to new levels.”

Top Comment by Stupidiswhatstupiddoes

Do not care what he says or does. Hope he moves to Saudi Arabia where his bosses live.

Share your take

Debate

But for now, Mickelson is not giving up that easily, and if you know him well enough, you won’t count him out from making a comeback. The early half of Mickelson’s career was defined by his inability to win a major. But once he was triumphant at the 2004 Masters, he didn’t stop, adding five more majors to his name, including two more titles at Augusta, two PGA Championships, and one Open Championship.

Mickelson missed the LIV season opener in Saudi Arabia due to a minor shoulder injury during a workout in the gym. However, after his return, it seems like Mickelson is already on a path to improve and make new strategies work. Ahead of the Masters, he racked up his best LIV finish to date.

Phil Mickelson’s new approach for fewer mistakes and more birdies

Mickelson returned with a bang, shooting four under on Sunday in Australia. He carried that momentum into LIV Hong Kong, opening with a three-under 67, good enough for a tie for 14th place after the first round. Mickelson attributed his success to a new approach, one that focuses on limiting mistakes rather than relying on raw power.

“The last couple years I’ve been kind of fighting it, trying to overpower a course where I don’t have the speed like the guys with 190 [ball speed],” Mickelson explained. “This offseason I thought, alright, I’ve got to find another way. I’ve got to find another way to shoot scores and try to beat these guys.”

He then shot rounds of 65-64 to earn a solo third-place finish with a total score of 14 under, his best LIV Golf finish yet. Mickelson’s new mantra is all about precision and strategy, rather than brute force. “The way I’m going to have to find another way to win is less mistakes,” he added. He then highlighted his goals for the season on the back of improved performances.

“I’m playing some good golf, and this is a building week as I continue to build into LIV and my goal of accomplishing a win in LIV as well as winning another major, getting ready for Augusta,” he said.

With a few weeks left before the Masters, Mickelson is looking to fine-tune his approach and make a strong run at Augusta National. So, do you think he can make a strong showing this time? Let us know in the comment section!