A number of years ago there was talk within the golf world that Phil Mickelson, who had been loved by the Latest York Metropolitan-area crowds, can be an ideal fit to be a Ryder Cup Captain at Bethpage Black in 2025.
But times have modified, 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 within the Ryder Cup because he was considered one of the primary players to defect from the PGA Tour to hitch the Saudi-funded LIV Golf, in addition to being considered one of its chief promoters.
“I don’t feel I’m the proper guy to be involved with the team because I’m a really divisive character without delay, should you will, and I understand that,” said Mickelson, a two-time U.S. Open runner-up at Bethpage Black, during his talk with McAfee concerning the state of LIV and the PGA Tour.
“The players on the PGA Tour, there’s a whole lot of hostilities towards me, and I don’t feel I’d be the very best leader for them.”
The 53-year-old Mickelson’s acknowledgement shows how much the hostilities between the PGA Tour and LIV have modified the landscape of golf.
Mickelson was briefly suspended by the PGA Tour for his role in promoting LIV after which joined the breakaway league in June 2022.
He also said a Ryder captain must have good relationships with players with none personal drama and to be a frontrunner and “someone that you would like to follow.”
“I knew I used to be 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 very best unifier going forward for the Ryder Cup and that’s that’s fantastic because I’ve had so many great memories with it.”
The PGA of America has not announced the following U.S. captain.
Tiger Woods is taken into account among the many 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 proceed into the brand new yr 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 could also be been too “judgmental” regarding their departure to the renegade league amongst other comments on the landscape of golf.
A number of days later Mickelson also tried to deescalate the stress with McIlroy in a post on X, saying the comments by “Rory probably weren’t easy to say.”
“Let’s not use this as a chance to pile on,” Mickelson wrote. “Fairly, It’s time for me and others to let go of our hostilities and work towards a positive future. [Jon] Rahms’ signing is popping right into a bridge to bring either side together,as evidenced by the various comments today and a month ago about changing the foundations for the Ryder Cup so Jon and others can play, so let’s use it as such.
“Until an agreement is reached it is going to be business as usual for either side but hopefully without the unnecessary disdain.”
— with AP
