Phil Mickelson to Miss LIV Golf's First Two 2026 Events

Phil Mickelson, the captain of LIV Golf's HyFlyers GC team, announced Sunday that he will miss the opening two events of the league's 2026 season due to a family health matter involving his wife, Amy. The six-time major champion shared the news in a social media post, stating he and his wife need to prioritize the issue at home.

The season begins February 4 at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia, followed by an event February 12-15 at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia. Mickelson expressed optimism about returning soon, writing, "I can't wait to compete again and look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible." In his absence for the Riyadh opener, 32-year-old Ollie Schniederjans will step in as a substitute. Schniederjans previously filled a similar role for Mickelson at last year's Saudi Arabia event when the 55-year-old was sidelined by a shoulder injury. Details on a replacement for Adelaide were not specified.

Mickelson's HyFlyers GC roster includes Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale and recent addition Michael La Sasso, the 21-year-old reigning NCAA individual champion. The team finished fifth in the 2025 team standings, buoyed by Mickelson's strong...