Having apologised for his comments regarding a breakaway league back in February, Phil Mickelson now looks set to join three European Ryder Cup stars in the first LIV Invitational in St Albans in June.
Mickelson decided to take a break from the game after apologising for comments regarding a proposed breakaway league, where he accused the PGA Tour of being “manipulative and coercive” before ironically going on to admit he was using the threat of a breakaway to “reshape” how the Tour operates, and also revealing he’d recruited three other players to the league and that he and other players paid attorneys to construct the proposed league’s operating agreement.
But it now seems Mickelson will play the first event just outside of London at the Centurion Club as well as defending his PGA Championship title next month.
“Our client Phil Mickelson is officially registered to play in the PGA Championship as well as the US Open,” said, Steve Loy, co-president of Sportfive management.
“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.
“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.”
Monday was the last day for PGA Tour members to apply for a release to tee it up in the Greg Norman backed event and it is understood that as many as 20 pros applied, including at least four Major-winners. The DP World Tour’s deadline for a release is May 14.
According to the British newspaper, the Telegraph, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are expected to tee it up in the event, which boasts a $4 million first prize. World No 15 Louis Oosthuizen is set to be the top-ranked player on show while Kevin Na looks to be one of the Americans taking the flight to England.
