Tranlate this title Phil Mickelson reportedly owned LIV Golf stake before bankruptcy filing in spanish

Phil Mickelson has found himself linked to another important LIV Golf story only days after the controversial league filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey.

The 56-year-old has been one of LIV’s most recognizable figures since joining the Saudi-backed circuit in 2022, but his role may have gone further than simply being a player and team captain.

According to Sportico, Mickelson owned a 0.23% stake in LIV Golf when the bankruptcy filing was made. The report cited a person familiar with the matter, while LIV declined to comment and Mickelson’s representative did not immediately respond.

The 128-page bankruptcy filing gave a clearer picture of the league’s ownership. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was listed with 98.48%, while PIF-controlled Performance54 Group Limited held another 1.05%.

Former LIV CEO Greg Norman was also listed with a 0.23% stake. Another 0.23% belonged to an unnamed «current player», and Sportico later reported that player was Mickelson.

Mickelson reportedly had a small LIV stake

The revelation arrives at a difficult moment for LIV Golf. The league entered Chapter 11 proceedings on September 8 as it tries to create a new structure and continue operating in 2027.

LIV has said the process is part of a planned recapitalization with BC Partners Credit and other possible investors. CEO Scott O’Neil stressed that the goal is not to close the league, but to build a different version of it.

«This process gives us the structure and time to pursue a landmark transaction and begin the next chapter of LIV Golf,» O’Neil said.

Court documents show LIV listed estimated assets between $100 million and $500 million and liabilities between $500 million and $1 billion. Several top players are also among the biggest unsecured creditors, including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.

A New Jersey bankruptcy judge has already given LIV interim approval to access $14 million in financing so it can continue paying employees and handle some operating costs during the process. A further hearing is scheduled for October 7 as the league continues working on the proposed restructuring.

Mickelson’s reported stake now creates another question. If the current ownership is cancelled or changed through the restructuring, it is not clear what value, if any, his 0.23% interest will have.

The American was one of the first big names to support LIV when the circuit started. He reportedly signed a deal worth around $200 million and later became captain of HyFlyers GC, where he also held a stake in the team.

His support for the league was loud from the beginning. In June 2022, Mickelson said: «I feel so good about LIV Golf.»

A lot has changed since then.

Questions remain around Mickelson’s future

Mickelson has barely played this season. He missed LIV’s opening events because of a family health matter and returned at LIV Golf South Africa in March, finishing tied for 48th.

That remains his only competitive appearance of 2026. He later missed all four majors for the first time in his professional career.

LIV confirmed before the South Africa event that Phil had missed the first four tournaments because of family health matters. He had also said earlier in the year that he expected to be away for an extended period.

The six-time major winner’s absence has made questions around his future even bigger now that LIV is entering a new phase.

Under the proposed restructuring, players are expected to have a much larger ownership role in a new version of the league. Reports around the plan say participating golfers could collectively receive a majority stake, while old agreements will be handled through the Chapter 11 process.

LIV also needs enough of its biggest names to commit to the new project. BC Partners’ proposed financing reportedly depends on a significant number of players agreeing to join the restructured league.

That gives Mickelson another decision to make. His current playing role is uncertain, his reported ownership stake is now part of the bankruptcy story, and he has not competed since March.

The veteran golfer has been connected with LIV from almost the beginning and was one of the figures who helped make the league a serious rival to the PGA Tour. His decision to join also became one of the biggest stories in golf at the time.

The next question is whether he will return as a player, remain involved in another role, or move away from the league as LIV tries to build its new version for 2027.

It seems that we will have to wait a long time before getting all the answers.

That is not surprising, considering that even the players inside the league do not appear to know everything that is happening.

However, the media are once again looking closely at everything around the controversial league, hoping to discover some new details.