In the wake of his controversial comments about a proposed Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway golf league and his perceived problems with the PGA Tour, Phil Mickelson will no longer serve as host of The American Express PGA Tour event in La Quinta.
The PGA Tour confirmed to The Palm Springs Desert Sun on Saturday that Mickelson, who served as tournament host since 2020, will not return to that role in 2023. In addition, the Mickelson Foundation, formed in 2019 specifically to be the charitable arm of the tournament, will no longer be part of the event, the tour confirmed. Tour officials declined comment on any other matters over Mickelson’s departure.
Mickelson, a Hall of Fame golfer and winner of 45 PGA Tour events and six major championships, has been a fixture in the desert and at the tournament. Mickelson, a 19-time tournament participant since his desert debut in 1993, has won twice in 2002 and 2004. He also has had a home in La Quinta in recent years.
