Phil Mickelson received LIV Golf participation payment despite limited play as league files for bankruptcy

Phil Mickelson earned his player participation agreement (PPA) payment from LIV Golf despite appearing in only one tournament this year, a South African event in March, before withdrawing for a family health issue. The payment was confirmed by a report in the Financial Times, which noted that his contractual payout is separate from prize earnings.

LIV Golf has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is exploring a 2027 relaunch with up to $300 million pledged by BC Partners Credit. The restructuring plan may feature lower individual tournament purses and a greater emphasis on team competition.

Court documents cited by the Associated Press show that the league made sizable payments to other players before filing, including $26 million to Jon Rahm, nearly $13.9 million to Bryson DeChambeau, and $10.7 million to Dustin Johnson. These figures do not disclose Mickelson’s exact PPA amount.

Amid the uncertainty, several established players have announced their departures. Ian Poulter said his decision was “a tough decision” and expressed a desire to spend more time with family and focus on senior golf. Tyrrell Hatton posted on Instagram that he will not join the proposed LIV 2.0 and thanked supporters for their backing.

Mickelson has not confirmed whether he will compete in the league’s next iteration, leaving his future involvement unclear.