FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) — This could have been Phil Mickelson’s week, and indeed, it might have been his Ryder Cup.
The 55-year-old six-time major champion, who spearheaded a shift to the LIV Golf league, has participated in the event more times (12) than any other player. He seemed like a natural choice to captain the team at Bethpage Black.
Bethpage is a prominent public course located just outside New York City, renowned for fans serenading Mickelson with “Happy Birthday” since 2002. It’s also where he made a noteworthy return to golf after his wife’s cancer diagnosis in 2009 and where he faced two painful runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open, a major he has yet to win.
Mickelson has expressed fondness for New York, noting how the crowd dynamic clicked with him. “That’s where I felt things kind of clicked,” he recalled in 2019 before his last significant appearance in the PGA Championship.
Historically, Mickelson enjoyed immense popularity in New York and had the potential to connect deeply at a Ryder Cup event, which draws on the emotions of captains, players, and fans alike. However, as former captain Paul Azinger remarked, “he hit a fork in the road, and he took it.”
Not long ago, Mickelson was viewed as a likely captain, especially given his strong performance at the 2021 Ryder Cup. However, his decision to join LIV Golf led to his exclusion from what could have been a pivotal role in traditional golf, as he acknowledged, “I don’t feel I’m the right guy to be involved with the team… I understand that.”
Despite being sidelined from captaincy, his legacy remains significant. Keegan Bradley, the current captain and a former playing partner, recognized Mickelson’s contributions to the Ryder Cup, stating that his accomplishments in the event are everlasting. “That never goes away. That’s with you forever,” Bradley noted.
