Phil Mickelson Requests Saudi Golf League Release
The six-time Major winner's comeback looks to be on the horizon


Phil Mickelson's return may be on the horizon after an announcement stating that the six-time Major winner has requested a release from the PGA Tour to play in the opening LIV Golf Invitational Series event at the Centurion Club in June and has also registered for both next month's PGA Championship and June's US Open.
The statement, issued from Steve Loy at SPORTFIVE agency, very sternly said that he "has no concrete plans" on when or where he'll play, and that he is currently keeping "all options open."
Today was the final day for requests to play in the opening Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series with the PGA Tour's 45-day policy for requesting releases to play on other tours. A total of 20 PGA Tour players had reportedly requested releases for the event earlier in the day prior to the deadline.
Mickelson has not been seen on tour since the Saudi International in February before a public controversy surrounding comments on the Saudis, his role in the LIV Golf Invitational Series and how he was using it for "leverage" against the PGA Tour.
In a public apology, the American said he was taking time away from the game and subsequently missed The Masters, a tournament he has won three times, for the first time since 1994.
"Our client Phil Mickelson is officially registered to play in the PGA Championship as well as the U.S. Open," the statement read.
"We have also filed a request on his behalf for a release to play in the first LIV Golf Invitational in London, June 9 - 11. This request complies with the deadline of April 25 set forth by the PGA Tour to compete in a conflicting tour event.
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"Phil currently has no concrete plans on when and where he will play. Any actions taken are in no way a reflection of a final decision made, but rather to keep all options open."
Mickelson won last year's PGA Championship at the age of 50, becoming the oldest Major winner in history. He has also famously finished runner-up at the US Open, the only Major he is yet to win, on six occasions.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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