Golf: Mickelson moved on from The Match due to LIV switch, says report

FLORIDA – Phil Mickelson’s decision to leave the PGA Tour for the rival LIV Golf Series has led to him no longer being booked for The Match, the made-for-TV golf event.

The creator and producer of The Match, Bryan Zuriff, told Sports Illustrated the event has moved on from Mickelson, who appeared in the first four contests.

“Phil was a phenomenal partner and he helped build this thing,” Zuriff said in the interview. “He was really good in this show, but he chose an opportunity and has taken a different path. Our show lives on because people like it.”

He added that The Match is “basically a PGA Tour event”, saying: “Look, we’re in business with the PGA Tour. Maybe one day, LIV will figure out their stuff. Then I’ll work with whomever is appropriate.”

Zuriff started The Match after getting to know Mickelson at a Southern California country club. The first event featured Tiger Woods and Mickelson in a head-to-head battle, won by Mickelson.

In his final event, Mickelson paired with Tom Brady to take on Bryson DeChambeau and Aaron Rodgers in July 2021. DeChambeau also joined LIV Golf this summer.

The next edition of The Match is scheduled for Dec 10, with Woods and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy teaming up to play Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, with the latter three making their debut in the series.

They will play 12 holes under the lights beginning at 6pm at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.

Meanwhile, Woods, who has not competed since missing the cut at the British Open in July, has added a third December event to his calendar as he agreed to play with his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in Orlando, tournament organisers said on Friday.

The Dec 15-18 event at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club is a 36-hole tournament with a field of 20 Major champions and a family member, and sets up what will be a busy finish to the year for Woods.

Limited to three events so far in 2022 due to the effects of injuries suffered in a car crash the year before, Woods has added the

Dec 1-4 Hero World Challenge

to his schedule alongside The Match.

For Woods, 46, and his 13-year-old son Charlie, this will mark

their third time playing in the PNC Championship,

having finished seventh in 2020 before returning a year later when they came runners-up to twice Major champion John Daly and his son.

“This is such a special opportunity as a dad to get to compete with my son against so many golfing greats and their family members,” Woods, who rattled off 11 birdies in a row to set the longest birdie streak in the history of the tournament, said in a news release.

“It is going to be a very special week and I know that Charlie and I will have a blast.”

Among those also confirmed for the US$1.085 million (S$1.49 million) PNC Championship are Daly, Thomas, Spieth, Gary Player, Nick Faldo, Tom Lehman, Mark O’Meara, Vijay Singh, Justin Leonard, Nick Price, Lee Trevino, Annika Sorenstam and Nelly Korda. REUTERS