In his first public appearance before the media since taking a break from golf in early 2022, the normally talkative Phil Mickelson maintained some reservations, despite a more than 20-minute press conference Monday at The Country Club course in Brookline, Mass. , where the 122nd US Open will be held Thursday through Sunday.
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The 51-year-old resigned for a number of reasons, but controversial talks over the new Saudi-funded golf circuit were the trigger for the break.
Mickelson recently returned to action, albeit at the LIV circuit, which hosted its first-ever tournament last weekend. Logically, therefore, the majority of the questions put to him concerned this subject.
“I’ve already had several strong opinions, let’s put it that way, about several leading groups [de la PGA] and I brokered them poorly,” said Mickelson, whose comments were picked up by ESPN. This is one of the mistakes I made and I will try to fix it in the future. I have to be more thoughtful in my choice of words and in my actions and keep a lot of things behind closed doors.”
What future?
The man, nicknamed “Lefty,” was suspended indefinitely by PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan Thursday along with several other golfers who joined the LIV Tour.
When asked if he would play PGA events again, Mickelson remained unclear.
“My suspension from the PGA was fairly public, as were some other players’, so it would only be speculative to think about the future. I will play Circuit LIV events. I will be competing in the British Open but talking about the other events would be speculation. I don’t know how this is all supposed to work.
“I’d rather be able to choose my own path, whether it’s one or the other, or even both. I feel like I’ve given a lot to the PGA and golf in my 30-year career, and my achievements on the course have earned me my lifetime membership. I intend to preserve that and decide which events to attend or not to attend.
Mickelson will be making his 31st appearance at the US Open, an event he has never won. This is also the only major tournament in which he could never be crowned.