The 55-year-old golf pro said that he and wife, Amy, “need to be present” for the matter in a Feb. 1 announcement
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NEED TO KNOW
- Phil Mickelson will miss two upcoming golf events
- “I will not be able to participate in the first two LIV Events as Amy and I need to be present for a family health matter,” he said in a Feb. 1 announcement in which he named a substitute
- Pro golfer Ollie Schniederjans will sub in for him in his absence
Phil Mickelson announced that he is sitting out of two upcoming golf events, citing an unspecified “family health matter.”
The 55-year-old golf pro revealed to fans that he will be absent from the first two events of the 2026 LIV Golf League season in a statement on his social media accounts on Sunday, Feb. 1.
“I will not be able to participate in the first two LIV Events as Amy and I need to be present for a family health matter,” Mickelson said in the statement, referring to his wife of nearly 30 years.
The veteran golfer — who shares three children with the former NBA cheerleader — did not share any further information about the nature of the health matter, nor did he specify what family member is affected.
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) February 1, 2026
A representative for Mickelson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Feb. 1.
The controversial, Saudi Arabia-backed golf league’s season begins at the Riyadh Golf Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the first and second rounds scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4, and Thursday, Feb. 5. It will later head to Australia for another event.
In his announcement, Mickelson — who captains LIV Golf’s HyFlyers GC team — also revealed that another American professional golfer will sub in for him in his absence.
“I can't wait to compete again and look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible,” wrote Mickelson. “In the meantime, Ollie Schniederjans will step in for me in Riyadh as l root on HyFlyers eC from afar.”
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It isn’t the first time 32-year-old Schniederjans — who will join the HyFlyers roster of Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale and Michael La Sasso — has subbed in for Mickelson.
As Mickelson was dealing with a shoulder injury last year, Schniederjans took the golf legend’s spot at the 2025 LIV Golf opener in Saudi Arabia as a reserve player, according to the New York Post.
Mickelson shares three kids with his wife Amy: daughters Amanda, 26, Sophia Isabel, 24, and son Evan, 22. Together, the family of five has been through their share of hardships, including Amy's 2009 cancer diagnosis, which Phil has previously described as the most "emotional" period of his life.
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Most recently, the couple’s marriage made headlines in 2023, when Mickelson praised Amy for standing by his side throughout his recovery from his gambling addiction.
In a post at the time, the veteran golfer shared that his wife has “loved me and supported me through my darkest and most difficult times,” noting that he “couldn’t have gotten through this without" his longtime love.
“I’m so grateful for her strength in helping us get through the many challenges I’ve created for us,” the athlete wrote. “Because of her love, support and commitment, I’m back on track to being the person I want to be.”
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Category: General Sports
