Mickelson who only needs a US Open win to gain a career Grand Slam has spent the last four months in golf exile after his comments about the PGA Tour and the Saudi Regime were made public.
In his post-round interview, he said, βI missed competing but I also enjoyed some time away.β
Throughout his career, Mickelson has had six runner-up finishes at the US Open but he has not finished higher than T28 at the US Open. However, he remains a fan favorite.
In a departure from his usual criticisms of the USGA, he said, βIt was spectacular to come back to such a historic course, and I thought the setup was remarkable, just really showcased what a special place this is.β
Because he did not make the cut, he will not receive any money for just participating. This is part of his grievances about the USGA and the PGA and he believes that golfers should not participate for free.
For now, Mickelson is on the LIV Golf tour. With LIV, no matter how badly he plays, he still gets paid, and well paid at that.
The next LIV event is the tournament in Portland, Oregon. That will be followed by six more events that comprise the LIV inaugural season.