Mickelson delays start to LIV season again for family matter

Phil Mickelson will miss the fourth LIV Golf event of the season, yet to make his 2026 debut because of an undisclosed family health matter.

Wade Ormsby of Australia will take Mickelson's place in the event field and compete for HyFlyers GC, the team Mickelson, 55, captains.

"I will not be able to participate in the first two LIV Events as [wife] Amy and I need to be present for a family health matter," Mickelson said in a social media post on February 1.

"I can't wait to compete again and look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible."

It is unclear whether Mickelson will compete in the Masters, which starts April 9. If he does play at Augusta National, it could come without any live-event competition this year.

LIV has just one more event – LIV Golf South Africa from March 19-22 – before the Masters.

He missed the cut last season in three of four majors, with his only finish at T56 at The Open Championship.