Phil Mickelson believes he is too ‘divisive’ to be USA Ryder Cup captain following bitter defection to LIV Golf… but six-time major winner tells Pat McAfee: ‘I’m OK with that’

Phil Mickelson has raised speculation that he will captain Team USA in next year’s Ryder Cup match at Bethpage.

The 53-year-old six-time champion has been tipped as a possible successor to Zach Johnson as the United States look to end its three-year dominance of Europe, which was extended in September after Luke Donald led the team to victory in Rome. .

But during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, ‘Lefty’ dismissed the rumors and admitted he is not the right man to lead his compatriots to their first Ryder Cup victory since 2021.

“I’ve had 12 or 13 opportunities to be part of the Ryder Cup, 12 as a player and one as a vice-captain,” Mickelson said. ‘I have loved every minute of it and cherish those moments and life experiences.

“I don’t feel like I’m the right person to be involved with the team because I have a very divisive character at the moment. I understand that there is a lot of animosity toward me among PGA Tour players and I do not feel that I would be the right leader for them in the future.

“I think as a Ryder Cup captain you have to be kind of a unifying factor and cement those relationships and be someone you want to follow.”

No other American has competed more in the biennial competition than Mickelson. Last year’s match was the first he has not competed in since 1993, when the Ryder Cup was played at The Belfry – coincidentally the last time America won on European soil.

Mickelson also has one of the worst Ryder Cups records of all time, losing 22 times out of 47 matches played.

The San Diego, California native was also touted to lead the Stars and Stripes in the past until joining LIV Golf in June 2022.

Mickelson last played in the Ryder Cup in 2017 at Le Golf National in Paris, France (pictured)

“I’ve been very divisive and I’m okay with that,” Mickelson continued on McAfee’s show. ‘I knew this would be the case. I knew it would take a few years and I would get a lot of hits, but I believe it is in the best interest of the game of golf to present it in a different way and to a younger audience, and to try to solve a problem to stop what is quickly emerging, namely the age demographic of our fans.

‘I also believe that it will be a lot better for the professionals themselves. Some things behind the scenes where I don’t have to go into the details, the reward structure and the rights of the players and so on, I think those will be resolved in the future and I think (LIV) is another product where I really in faith.’

“So I knew I was going to take some hits in the future. I’m fine with that and as a divided individual I don’t think I’m the right unifier for the Ryder Cup and that’s fine because I’ve had so many great memories of it. It’s time for other people to create their own memories, opportunities and life experiences that the Ryder Cup provides.”

Earlier this month, Mickelson took to social media to credit Rory McIlroy for his expansive vision for peace between LIV and PGA Tour players, noting how Jon Rahm’s recent move to LIV helped bring the sides together .