Phil Mickelson was one of the first high-profile players to make waves when he jumped ship from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed league aiming to disrupt the world of professional golf. However, Mickelson, who was a key figure in LIV Golf’s early success, now finds himself in a precarious position. A recent rule change has put the 53-year-old veteran at risk of relegation, potentially pushing him to the sidelines in the very league he helped launch.
LIV Golf made headlines in 2021 with its audacious mission to rival the PGA Tour, fueled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund’s massive financial backing. In early 2022, Mickelson became one of the first major stars to defect from the PGA Tour, signing a groundbreaking deal reportedly worth $200 million. His departure was a seismic shift, and soon after, LIV managed to lure other top-tier golfers like Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, and Jon Rahm. These signings solidified LIV Golf’s status as a serious competitor to the PGA.
Despite the staggering sums of money paid to its players, LIV Golf has yet to make the cultural impact that many expected. Still, most players who joined the league are reportedly satisfied with their decision, especially given the financial security it has provided. However, the future for some of those players, including Mickelson, has become uncertain due to a last-minute rule change that could leave them on the outside looking in.
In 2023, LIV Golf introduced a relegation system—a concept borrowed from European soccer—designed to add more competition and stakes to its format. Players who finish the season outside the top 44 spots in the rankings risk relegation, meaning they could lose their spot in the league unless they qualify through a post-season tournament. Initially, team captains were immune from this system, but in a surprise twist, that exemption will no longer apply in 2024, according to a report by Sports Illustrated. This rule change now puts several prominent players, including Mickelson, at risk of being relegated.
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Heading into the season finale at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Chicago, Mickelson, the captain of the HyFlyers team, finds himself on the bubble. He currently holds the 44th spot in the rankings—the exact cutoff for avoiding relegation. Other notable players, like Majesticks co-captain Ian Poulter, who sits in 46th place, and RangeGoats captain Bubba Watson, who is in the relegation zone at 52nd, are also dangerously close to losing their status in the league.
Anthony Kim, once considered a potential comeback star, has also underperformed and is in 56th place, although he is exempt from relegation this year.
For those who fall into the relegation zone, there will be an opportunity to regain their spot in the league through qualifying events held after the season. However, there’s an additional “business case” exemption loophole, which could come into play for high-profile players like Mickelson. Given his immense value to the league and his role in its initial success, it’s likely that LIV would invoke this exemption to protect Mickelson if he does end up slipping out of the top 44.
All eyes will be on Chicago as the tournament unfolds, with Mickelson and other big names fighting to secure their positions in the league.
While Mickelson may have been one of the architects of LIV Golf’s rise, this rule change serves as a reminder that even legends of the game are not immune to the pressures of competition.
The final standings will be determined when the tournament concludes on Sunday, and only then will we know whether Mickelson’s future with LIV Golf is secure or if he’ll have to battle his way back into the fold.
