LIFE Golf will start the fifth season without Phil Mickelson.
In a social media post on Sunday morning, Mickelson, who is the HyFlyers GC captain, announced he will miss the first two events of 2026 due to a family issue.
“I will not be able to participate in the first two LIV events as Amy and I have to be present for a family health issue,” Mickelson wrote on X. “I can’t wait to compete again and I look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible.”
LIV kicks off its season on February 4 at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia before heading Down Under next week for an event at The Grange Golf Club in Australia.
Mickelson’s news comes at a volatile time for LIV, which recently lost two of its biggest stars. Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, both of whom have opted to return to the PGA Tour. Koepka, in fact, is competing in Mickelson’s hometown of San Diego this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
A prominent face at LIV, Mickelson, 55, is also an active voice on social media, where he mixes golf-related commentary with sharp political commentary.
However, earlier this week, in his latest X post before Sunday’s announcement, he struck a different tone with a message of emotional support to an unspecified audience.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but just existing is enough,” Mickelson wrote. “Who you are in this moment is enough to make you special and unique. Know that.”
In his message on Sunday, Mickelson said Oliie Schiederjans will fill in for him in Riyadh “as I root for HyFlyers GC from afar”.
