A golf insider has revealed why Phil Mickelson will never be allowed to return to the PGA Tour, as uncertainty continues to cloud the future of LIV Golf. The Saudi-backed rebel tour has been thrown into chaos amid speculation of a potential collapse, leaving golfers and staff scrambling for information.
LIV Golf's Turmoil
To make matters worse for LIV Golf, five-time major champion Brooks Koepka opted to walk away, followed by Patrick Reed, both hoping to return to the PGA Tour. With the controversial rebel tour appearing to crumble, fans have speculated which remaining LIV stars—such as Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith—could make a stunning return to the PGA Tour. However, according to one insider, Phil Mickelson will not be among them.
Former ESPN host Trey Wingo told Awful Announcing: 'I can promise you one person that you'll never see in any way in an official capacity with the PGA Tour is Phil Mickelson. That bridge has been burned, detonated, destroyed, nuked, lasered to death. There is no building that bridge back.'
Mickelson's Role and Absence
Mickelson played a major role when LIV Golf first launched, and given that he is well past his prime, there is little chance of a return. The news comes amid a turbulent time for Mickelson, who is taking an 'extended period of time' away from golf to deal with a mysterious family health issue. Posting on X, he wrote: 'Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter. I have great respect for Augusta National Golf Club and it is definitely the most special week of the year. I wish everyone the best of luck and will be watching.'
LIV Golf's Uncertain Future
Meanwhile, multiple agents told Daily Mail Sport that they were in the dark over whether LIV Golf—which Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has pumped almost $6 billion into since 2022—was on the brink of being abandoned amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. Tour executives were summoned for an emergency meeting in New York this month as fears continued to grow, but in an email sent to league staffers, LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil stressed that staff should continue with their daily responsibilities. 'I want to be crystal clear,' he wrote. 'Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.'
Background on LIV Golf
LIV Golf launched in 2022 and sent shockwaves through the sport, positioning itself as a rival to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. The breakaway league attracted some of golf's biggest names, including Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, before leading European players such as Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton also joined. LIV's emergence sparked a fierce divide in the game. European Ryder Cup stalwarts Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood effectively ended their participation in the biennial event by joining the Saudi-backed league, as the PGA and DP World Tour imposed sanctions on players who defected. However, five-time major winner Koepka quit earlier this year to return to the PGA Tour, while former Masters champion Reed also walked away and is competing on the DP World Tour as he bids to return to the PGA Tour.
