Stunning $42 million Phil Mickelson development in golfing furore

Phil Mickelson's defence of his USPGA Championship title in 2021 could be in jeopardy, with reports the six-time major winner has accepted an AUD$42 million pay day to play in all of the upcoming LIV Golf Invitational Series events.

Mickelson's agent has confirmed the 51-year-old is seeking a release from the PGA Tour that would allow him to play in the first of Greg Norman's Saudi-backed events in June.

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The LIV Golf tour is planning to stage eight events this year, with the first event at the Centurion Club, outside London, coming just one week before the US Open.

According to the UK Telegraph, Mickelson is joining fellow big-name stars Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen in signing up for the inaugural LIV Golf event.

News Corp reports some of Australia’s top players are also following suit, with several unnamed stars said to have signed on.

The application for release, a necessary element of any attempt to play on a tour outside of the PGA Tour, is part of a series of applications Mickelson is making for significant upcoming tournaments, including the PGA Championship — where he is the defending champion — and the US Open.

“Our client Phil Mickelson is officially registered to play in the PGA Championship as well as the US Open," said Mickelson’s agent Steve Loy, in a statement.

“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.”

Mickelson has reportedly received $US30 million ($A42 million) up front from LIV Golf, to play in all eight of the Invitational series events, in which substantial prize money is up for grabs.

“Fears are growing in the game’s corridors of power that Phil Mickelson has already signed up to play in all eight events of the LIV Golf Invitational Series and that it will be the 51-year-old who will be the face of the likely court battle if and when the PGA Tour issues bans,” The Telegraph said.

If Mickelson fails to feature in all eight of the LIV Golf Invitational events, it's understood he would have to pay back a percentage of the $42 million up front payment.

The situation has placed Mickelson's USPGA defence at risk, with reports he could skip the major at Southern Hills next month, in favour of the LIV Golf series.

Mickelson famously become the oldest major winner when he triumphed in last years's USPGA Championship.

The 51-year-old hasn’t played since the Asian Tour’s Saudi Invitational in early February, and hasn’t made a public statement since late February, when comments he made on the Saudi-backed golf league drew immediate and widespread heat.

The American acknowledged to golf journalist Alan Shipnuck that despite any ethical concerns about getting involved with the Saudi league, he intended to use LIV Golf as a way to pressure the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson's controversial take on Saudi-backed golf series

“They’re scary motherf***ers to get involved with,” Mickelson said of the Saudi government.

“We know they killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."

Mickelson lost multiple sponsorship deals in the wake of his comments. He issued a statement on Feb. 22, but has remained silent ever since.

"I used words I sincerely regret that do not reflect my true feelings or intentions," Mickelson said in the statement.

"It was reckless, I offended people, and I am deeply sorry for my choice of words. I’m beyond disappointed and will make every effort to self-reflect and learn from this."

In late February, Mickelson’s name appeared on a list of former champions who would not be playing in this year’s Masters.

The 2022 Masters marked the first time Mickelson had missed the tournament since 1994.

Mickelson’s name is also on the list of potential players in both the PGA Championship and the US Open, with deadlines to make applications for both events coming earlier this month.

with agencies

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