Former PGA Tour pro says he joined LIV Golf to "pick Phil Mickelson's brain while traveling the world"
LIV golfer Brendan Steele opened up this week about his decision to join the Saudi-backed circuit. The American golfer appeared on an episode of the popular LIV Golf podcast "Fairway to Heaven," hosted by Jerry Foltz and Su Ann Heng. On the show, he spoke about his relationship with six-time Major winner Phil Mickelson and how their conversation led him to join the breakaway series.
Steele started playing on LIV Golf in its second season in 2023. He was impressive last season and has also fared well in the third season. He plays for Mickelson's team, HyFlyers, on the circuit.
Speaking of his decision to join LIV Golf, Steele shared a conversation with Mickelson and spoke about his desire to not miss the opportunity to travel the world. He said,
"Phil called, and he just said, "Hey, I wanted to run something by you before I went in any different direction, like I wasn't sure if you'd be interested or whatever." And so we just talked it out, and I thought, "This is too good an opportunity to pass up," as far as like going, picking Phil's brain, traveling the world, having a team. Like everything that lined up was like, "This is a perfect opportunity, I can't pass on it" (45:50).
"And then there's still nerves and things, because I don't know what it's like out there, I haven't played a LIV event, I haven't seen one. So, I get to Mayakoba last year, and I'm pretty nervous and pretty worried about what it's all going to be like and everything, and I got comfortable really fast. Everything was way better than I could have hoped for—more enjoyable and friendlier."
Notably, dozens of players from different golf series around the world have joined LIV Golf in the last few years. Its third season concluded last month.
Brendan Steele's LIV Golf career at glance
Brendan Steele has competed in two seasons on LIV Golf and has fared well in both of them. He competed in 13 events in the second season of the Saudi circuit in 2023, finishing in 19th position in the season standings, securing his spot for the third season.
He started his debut campaign with the Mayakoba event, where he finished in fifth place, and then finished third in Tucson. Although he did not win any LIV Golf events in 2023, Steele recorded three top-10 finishes.
The former PGA Tour player started the 2024 LIV Golf season again with the Mayakoba event, and this year he finished in 21st position. His second LIV Golf season has been pretty successful for the 41-year-old golfer.
He won his maiden LIV Golf event in Adelaide earlier this year. He recorded some good finishes and secured the 24th spot in the season-ending standings, again finishing in the "lock zone" that guarantees him a place in next year's LIV Golf league.