The Open Championship will take place in St. Andrews from July 14 to July 17. It is the 150th edition of the oldest golf tournament in the world, organized by Royal & Ancient Golf Club or R&A under the PGA Tour. Six-time major champion and The Open 2013 winner Phil Mickelson, who is now a member of LIV Golf, will compete in the tournament.
Before the six-time major champion entered The Open, he joined a tournament under LIV Golf, which had restricted the golfer from playing in PGA Tour tournaments. However, in June 2022, The R&A permitted some LIV golfers, including Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Louis Oosthuizen to compete in the 150th Open Championship.
Competing in The Open
Mickelson was named starters with many golfers, including as two-time champion Tiger Woods, Matthew Fitzpatrick, and 2021 reigning champion, Collin Morikawa.
CBS Sports’ Kyle Porter reported earlier this week that Mickelson was seen at St. Andrews practicing before the event.
Watching Phil try to topspin 1-irons off the road and up the hill on 17 was mesmerizing. Perhaps my favorite part of the week so far. pic.twitter.com/3rLuepfRux
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) July 13, 2022
“Watching Phil try to topspin 1-irons off the road and up the hill on 17 was mesmerizing. Perhaps my favorite part of the week so far,” he said.
According to sources, Mickelson had already taken the Old Course for practice since last Friday and played every day. He said that the tournament was always great for him, and he prepared everything for his sixth time competing in The Open.
“I love being here. Everybody here loves golf, and we find this place to be very spiritual,” he said. “As great as this game has been to me, to be able to come here to the (Home of Golf) and compete again, I think this is my sixth one here.
For the record, Mickelson is the 2013 winner of The Open Championship. That being said, he finished in the top ten three times. In that year, Lefty had won the tournament with a five-shot deficit and three strokes margins against Sweden golfer Henrik Stenson. Mickelson will be looking to win $14 million in prize money in this year’s The Open Championship.
Mickelson and other LIV golfers qualifies for The Open
Previously, Mickelson and other LIV golfers were doubtful to play at St. Andrews. But, according to ESPN, R&A CEO Martin Slumbers said that any golfer who qualifies the entry terms and conditions of The Open would be allowed to compete. Also, he said that The Open was still the same traditional golf tournament with its openness to every golfer since it was first played in 1860 with the same rules.
“The Open is golf’s original championship and since it was first played in 1860, openness has been fundamental to its ethos and unique appeal,” he said.
“Players who are exempt or have earned a place through qualifying for The 150th Open in accordance with the entry terms and conditions will be able to compete in the Championship at St. Andrews,” Slumbers said.
Slumbers said that he would not ban LIV players from joining The Open in the future. Mickelson is eligible to play in the tournament until he is 60.