Phil Mickelson To Make LIV Golf Return In South Africa

Phil Mickelson missed the start of the LIV Golf season due to a family health matter but will make his 2026 debut in South Africa

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Phil Mickelson at LIV Golf Michigan
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson is finally set to make his first LIV Golf start of the season at the upcoming debut event in South Africa.

The HyFlyers captain hasn't been seen in competitive action since the final LIV Golf event of last season in Michigan last August.

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Mickelson said he was missing the season opener in Riyadh due to a "family health matter" and he's not been seen in action since.

“I will not be able to participate in the first two LIV Events as Amy and I need to be present for a family health matter,” Mickelson posted on social media before Riyadh.

“I can’t wait to compete again and look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible.”

The announcement of Mickelson returning to tournament golf came on his HyFlyers team social media.

Mickelson himself has not made any public comment on his return to LIV Golf action as yet.

Wade Ormsby and Ollie Schneiderjans have been filling in for Mickelson during events in Riyadh, Adelaide, Hong Kong and Singapore.

But the six-time Major champion is now back in the fold for LIV's first ever trip to South Africa in Steyn City.

Mickelson's return is hopefully a sign of his family health matter improving since he was forced to skip the opening events of the season.

And it also bodes well for the three-time Masters champion to be able to tee it up at Augusta National again next month - and get some golf under his belt beforehand.

Mickelson is due to make his 34th trip down Magnolia Lane in a few weeks but the longer he went without playing tournament golf the more likely it became that he'd miss out.

And a Masters without Mickelson is a rare occurrence, as he's only missed two since making his first pro start at Augusta in 1993.

He failed to make it in 1994 and then played in 27 straight runnings before skipping 2022 in the fallout from joining LIV Golf.

He returned to finish second in 2023 though but missed the cut last year.

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
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Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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