Phil Mickelson outlines final career goals after best ever LIV Golf performance

Phil Mickelson says he wants to win one more major championship and seal a victory on the breakaway LIV Golf League before retiring. 

Mickelson produced his best ever performance on the PIF-backed circuit over the weekend in Hong Kong. 

Lefty finished solo third on 14-under, four strokes behind champion Sergio Garcia. 

The 54-year-old told, in truth, has struggled for form since he was made persona non grata with the PGA Tour in 2022. 

It could be argued that during LIV's 'beta-test' season Mickelson wasn't fully focussed given it followed a period of self-imposed exile from the sport. 

In 2023, Mickelson finished 40th in LIV's individual standings and 39th overall last season. 

But it's clear Mickelson believes this year will be different. 

"So I really had a great offseason, and I figured some things out, and I'm playing a different style of golf," Mickelson told reporters last Sunday. 

Mickelson admitted he no longer has the speed to compete with the likes of Bryson DeChahmbeau. 

"I've been playing really well at home, and it's great to take it here," he added.

"I didn't putt well at Adelaide, otherwise I would have contended there, as well. 

"I played really good golf, and I had about four or five putts — today even — that could have gone lower and been an ultra low round to make a run."

His next opportunity to add to his tally of six major titles will arrive next month when he heads to Augusta National. 

Mickelson continued: "The fact is I'm hitting a lot of good shots. 

"I'm playing some good golf, and this is a building week as I continue to build into LIV and my goal of accomplishing a win in LIV as well as winning another major, getting ready for Augusta."

The stats do back up Mickelson's claim.

In Hong Kong, he hit 31 of 42 fairways and 77.8 per cent of greens in regulation.

"It didn't feel hard," Mickelson said. "It felt easy. I probably led the field in fairways hit. I haven’t seen the stats, but I’d be surprised if anybody hit more than I did. 

"My game is getting sharp. My short game is back. I had a rough couple of years. My short game is really sharp now. 

"My iron play is back, and my game is starting to really come around, and I’m also playing differently. I'm playing a lot less stressed, and it's coming."