Phil Mickelson had announced himself as the perfect fit for a future Team USA Ryder Cup captain, but his new-found loyalties with LIV Golf may well have hampered his chances
Because of his pivotal role in the drama between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, Phil Mickelson has declared that he is “too divisive” to captain the United States at the Ryder Cup.
One of Team USA’s greatest Ryder Cup players throughout his playing career, Mickelson participated in 11 matches against Team Europe and served as vice captain in one of those matches. The six-time major champion was expected to lead his country in the competition going forward, but the LIV star has now downplayed those chances.
Although Mickelson talked about the possibility of leading the Ryder Cup in the future, he feels he is not the ideal candidate due to the animosity he has with the players on the PGA Tour.
In an interview with the Pat McAfee Show, he said, “I’ve had twelve, thirteen chances to participate in the Ryder Cup—twelve as a player and one as vice captain—and I’ve loved every second of it, cherishing those times and those life experiences. I think I’m not the right guy to be on the team because, to use your metaphor, I’m a very polarizing character right now.
I am aware of the animosity that the PGA Tour players have toward me, and I don’t think I would be the best person to lead them moving forward. In my opinion, being the captain of the Ryder Cup requires one to be somewhat of a unifier, have these relationships established, and be someone that people want to follow. As of right now, I’ve been extremely polarizing.”
He continued, saying, “I’m OK with that; I knew that was going to be the case, that it would take a few years, and that I would have to endure a great deal of criticism and division. I don’t believe I’m the best unifier for the Ryder Cup going forward because I’m a divisive person.
“It’s time for other people to make their own memories, and that’s okay because I have so many wonderful memories with it.” Before the scandal surrounding Mickelson’s move to Saudi Arabia, it was anticipated that the American would serve as the event captain in 2025 at Bethpage Black.
But it seems like recent events have eliminated Mickelson from the race, as the current leader and formidable opponent of Lefty is Tiger Woods. In the midst of the ongoing drama surrounding the PGA Tour and LIV, the 15-time major winner was questioned about whether he would be taking on the role in September.
At the Hero World Challenge last month, he stated, “Right now, there’s too much at stake with our tour to think about a Ryder Cup right now.” “We need to finish this, and we need to give it our full attention right now. The players and all parties involved recognize that this is a matter that requires our attention and that the Ryder Cup can take a [backseat].
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