The field for the first of eight LIV Golf Invitational Series events was released earlier this week, and missing from the list of 42 players scheduled to tee off in London on June 9 was Phil Mickelson. The six-time major champion hasn't played professionally in four months, as he faced backlash for controversial comments about the Saudi-backed league, and how the PGA Tour operates.
Mickelson's reputation has taken massive blows since February, and it's still unclear when he'll return to competitive golf. Prior to the PGA Championship in late May, the 51-year-old veteran lefty withdrew from the tournament field, becoming the first player not to defend a major since Rory McIlroy in 2015. It's also unclear whether Mickelson has faced discipline from the PGA Tour, and tried to repair a strained relationship. Only he knows his next step.
"The reports of Phil Mickelson right now is that he has a beard that'd rival Tom Hanks in the film 'Cast Away.' And I'm not kidding, it's not a joke," Golf Channel insider Matt Adams told After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Friday. "He's got a massive beard. And the reports from his friends are that he's enjoying his time away from the spotlight, because he's on all the time. But, I still believe there had to be something more going on with Phil.
"When he did his mea culpa letter, everything about it seemed to suggest that there was something about Phil's character and consumptions that needed to be looked at. We don't know if he got any help, of any kind... And there's a lot of speculation that Phil's going to play in the event. Because, if you're getting paid by LIV Golf, you'll be expected to be at events... That player to be named later may in fact be Phil, he may in fact be playing on June 9 outside London."
The entire golf conversation between Adams and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.