Phil Mickelson has been toying with the idea of retirement for a while. In 2023, he seemed pretty aware of his declining form. Then, Mickelson said, “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,” and added that he wanted to help others find the same enjoyment.  The feeling continued in 2024 as well. Taking up the mic last year, he said, he was ready to step aside “and let somebody come on in and take the HyFlyers to new levels.”

The weight has been heavy on him for a while, clearly. In 2023, HyFlyers GC was 9th among 12 teams, with a score of 40. In 2024, Mickelson was ranked 44th in LIV Golf’s standings, and his team was hanging at 12th place out of 13 clubs. However, a few things seem to have changed since then.

Talking about it on the Phil Mickelson and the team channel, an emotional 54-year-old Mickelson discussed his disappointments with his game. He then added, “But Hong Kong was just a glimpse of what’s coming, I believe.” In the 2025 season, while the group is still stuck in the 9th position, Lefty’s team saw one of its best performances in Hong Kong. Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC achieved their first podium finish by tying for third with Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC in the team competition, but Phil Mickelson performed even better.

He finished solo third with a score of 14 under after shooting 64. Consequently, it marked his first podium finish since joining LIV Golf as an original member in 2022. “We are starting to trend up. We are starting to play really well. And there’s four majors. So, my goal to win a LIV event. My goal to win another major, um, I can feel is within reach.” It would be nice for Mickelson to be known as the 7x major champion, instead of 6. The spark is there, and his T2 finish at Augusta in 2023 indicates that.

On the team front, HyFlyers GC is doing pretty ok. The team finished T5 in Adelaide following a moderate finish in the season-opener in Riyadh (12). Talking about his game last month, Mickelson said he is seeing great shots in his games, “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.” However, following that solid Hong Kong finish, Mickelson’s form staggered a little. He finished T19 in Singapore. Amidst the highs and lows, can Phil Mickelson possibly clinch a win?

Phil Mickelson reveals new club change ahead of the Masters

The answer to that question depends on who you’re asking. After all, Mickelson’s form also decides what will go down for him at Augusta National. It’s been 15 years since his last Masters win, and Mickelson has achieved plenty–but not that much. But with the confidence of a three-time Masters winner, Phil Mickelson will tell you he is doing pretty good. For instance, the legendary golfer has made a change in his clubs.

Ahead of LIV Golf Miami, Mickelson revealed that he has been practicing with a 5-wood in recent times. He tried using a 7-wood for added power but found it made too much spin. According to him, a 5-wood will be useful for the longer par 5 holes 13 and 15. Mickelson will need it for approach shots of about 250 yards to reach the green in two.

And his carefulness makes sense, considering his history with the 15th hole. For instance, in the 1998 Masters, Mickelson bogeyed the 15th hole, a year later, he made a double bogey there in the opening round, a mistake that resulted in a T6 finish. In 2000, he bogeyed that hole on Sunday and finished T7. He might have not made a birdie on the 15th in the 2004 maiden win, but he didn’t make any mistakes either.

He counted the 1976 Masters winner Ray Floyd and Curtis Strange’s use of 5-wood on par-5s to justify his choice. “I’ve got one I really like and that I anticipate hitting into 13 and 15 based on the last couple of years where my ball is ending up off the tee and the yardage I have left.” Well, will it work out for him? We will know in a week!