A few years ago there was talk in the golf world that Phil Mickelson, who had been loved by the New York Metropolitan-area crowds, would be a perfect fit to be a Ryder Cup Captain at Bethpage Black in 2025.
But times have changed, and Mickelson knows it.
Mickelson, a six-time major winner, said Wednesday on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he doesn’t see himself as U.S. captain in the Ryder Cup because he was one of the first players to defect from the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-funded LIV Golf, as well as being one of its chief promoters.
“I don’t feel I’m the right guy to be involved with the team because I’m a very divisive character right now, if you will, and I understand that,” said Mickelson, a two-time U.S. Open runner-up at Bethpage Black, during his talk with McAfee about the state of LIV and the PGA Tour.
“The players on the PGA Tour, there’s a lot of hostilities towards me, and I don’t feel I’d be the best leader for them.”
The 53-year-old Mickelson’s acknowledgement shows how much the hostilities between the PGA Tour and LIV have changed the landscape of golf.
Mickelson was briefly suspended by the PGA Tour for his role in promoting LIV and then joined the breakaway league in June 2022.
He also said a Ryder captain needs to have good relationships with players without any personal drama and to be a leader and “somebody that you want to follow.”
“I knew I was going to take some hits [after going to LIV Golf]. I’m OK with that,” said Mickelson, who played on every U.S. Ryder Cup team from 1995 through 2018 and was a vice captain in 2021. “And as a divisive individual. I don’t think I’m the best unifier going forward for the Ryder Cup and that’s that’s fine because I’ve had so many great memories with it.”
The PGA of America has not announced the next U.S. captain.
Tiger Woods is considered among the frontrunners, though he has not indicated his interest for 2025.
Europe already has announced Luke Donald, who presided over a dominant victory in September at Marco Simone in Italy, will return as captain for 2025.
Recently, the PGA Tour informed its players in a memo that negotiations with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia would continue into the new year over the planned merger with LIV Golf.
Rory McIlroy, who has been feuding with Mickelson and other LIV golfers over the past few years, has softened his stance recently, saying he may be been too “judgmental” regarding their departure to the renegade league among other comments on the landscape of golf.
A few days later Mickelson also tried to deescalate the tension with McIlroy in a post on X, saying the comments by “Rory probably weren’t easy to say.”
“Let’s not use this as an opportunity to pile on,” Mickelson wrote. “Rather, It’s time for me and others to let go of our hostilities and work towards a positive future. [Jon] Rahms’ signing is turning into a bridge to bring both sides together,as evidenced by the many comments today and a month ago about changing the rules for the Ryder Cup so Jon and others can play, so let’s use it as such.
“Until an agreement is reached it will be business as usual for both sides but hopefully without the needless disdain.”
— with AP