Phil Mickelson on Presidents Cup team: ‘I have not done enough to warrant a pick’

Phil Mickelson has played for the United States in every single Presidents Cup since the event was started in 1994, helping the Americans claim the biennial event against the International Team 10 times.

He’s made the United States Ryder Cup team every time during that span, too, marking 24 consecutive team events for Mickelson in the past 25 years.

This December, though, it looks as if his streak is coming to a close.

After a rough end to the 2018-19 PGA Tour season, Mickelson slid to 16th in the United States’ points standings for the event — well outside the top eight who earn an automatic spot on this year’s Presidents Cup team after the BMW Championship.

Captain Tiger Woods can still select Mickelson to join the team with one of his four “captain’s picks.” Yet Mickelson, who is gearing up for The CJ Cup in South Korea this week, doesn’t think Woods should use the pick on him.

He hasn’t earned it.

“I have not played well in the last seven, eight months. Even if I were to win [The CJ Cup], I have not done enough to warrant a pick,” Mickelson said, via the PGA Tour. “I’m not asking for one. I don’t expect one. I think there’s a lot better options for the U.S. side.”

Mickelson — who has won 44 times on the PGA Tour since turning pro in 1992 — got off to a hot start on Tour last season, winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and finishing second at the Desert Classic. That, though, is when things went downhill.

Mickelson only finished inside the top 20 once following his victory at Pebble Beach — a T18 finish at the Masters — and missed the cut seven times. He missed the cut at The Open Championship and finished T52 and T71 at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, respectively.

The start of this season hasn’t been any better, either. The 49-year-old added extra events in an effort to earn his bid for the Presidents Cup team, but missed the cut at the Safeway Open and finished 61st at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open earlier this month. Mickelson has now slid to No. 48 in the World Golf Rankings, too.

Still, regardless of what happens this week at The Club at Nine Bridges in Jeju, South Korea, Mickelson remains confident in his golf game.

“I am starting to play much better and I’m excited about this upcoming season,” Mickelson said, via the PGA Tour.

After a rough season on Tour, it looks like Phil Mickelson will miss the cut for the Presidents Cup team. He has played in every event since the inaugural tournament in 1994.
After a rough season on Tour, it looks like Phil Mickelson will miss the cut for the Presidents Cup team. He has played in every event since the inaugural tournament in 1994. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Tiger ‘should be on the team’

Woods still has four “captain’s picks” available for the President's Cup in December at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia.

While he’s made it clear he doesn’t think Woods should choose him for the team, Mickelson knows at least one person who is deserving of a spot: Woods himself.

“I think if someone else was the captain, 100 percent they would pick Tiger,” Mickelson said, via the AFP. “The only reason that it’s a question is because it’s weird to pick yourself, but he’s ninth in the world, and he won the Masters. He should be on the team.”

It’s Woods’ play at the Masters, which marked his 15th major championship win in April, that sealed the deal for Mickelson. The 81-time Tour winner — along with Gary Woodland, who won the U.S. Open — should be a lock for the team, Mickelson said, even if it’s a bit awkward for Woods to pick himself.

“I think those two players should be automatic picks,” Mickelson said, via the AFP.

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