After missing the start of the 2026 season, the six-time major champion Phil Mickelson put an end to the speculation. The HyFlyers GC captain has some good news for fans ahead of LIV Golf South Africa.

Concerns around Mikelson grew after he also dropped out of LIV's Singapore event. Reports revealed that he was dealing with personal issues after missing events at Riyadh, Adelaide, and Hong Kong.

"Phil Mickelson will miss LIV Golf Singapore this week due to family issues. He is hopeful of a return next week at LIV Golf South Africa," Flushing Golf posted on March 10, and that later part just became reality.

HyFlyers GC made it official on social media. "Phil returns to the lineup this week in South Africa!" they posted on X. After all, Mikelson himself had expressed his desire to get back in the game ahead of Riyadh.

"I can’t wait to compete again and look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible," announced Phil Mickelson. He'll get that chance in South Africa from 19th to 22nd March 2026.

Gauging Form Ahead of the Journey to Augusta

Mickelson's return to play in LIV Golf South Africa is not only the start of his 2026 season, but also the last competitive tournament he will play in before the 2026 Masters. As a three-time winner at Augusta National, all eyes will be on him to see if he will be able to win yet another Green Jacket.

It would have been a historic challenge even for a veteran of his caliber to enter the first Major of the year without having any previous competition rounds. In deciding to compete at The Club at Steyn City, he is putting pressure on live events to sharpen his legendary short game.

The Masters is the ultimate of his annual aspirations, and his performance in the tournament has been consistent. His 2023 performance, in which he staged a dramatic final-round charge to finish tied in second, remains memorable.

However, we'll have to wait and see how the 55-year-old copes with the physical challenges of a full tournament week after such a long break. A good performance in South Africa would give him the impetus needed to become a serious contender once again on the sacred soil of Augusta.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi