Mickelson asks for permission to play in Saudi golf league opener

Phil Mickelson has asked the PGA Tour for permission to play in the Saudi-backed golf league opener while at the same time signing up for two of the year's remaining majors.

Monday was the deadline for players to ask for a conflicting event release from the PGA Tour to play in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational from June 9 to 11 at the Centurion Club in Hertfordshire, with Robert Garrigus the only other player to have publicly confirmed he has applied too.

It also was the deadline to register for the PGA Championship, for which the 51-year-old is the defending champion, with Mickelson registering for this year's tournament at Southern Hills and the US Open. However, his management insisted this was not a confirmation of his plans.

"Our client Phil Mickelson is officially registered to play in the PGA Championship as well as the US Open," Mickelson's long-time manager, Steve Loy of Sportfive, said in a statement.

"We have also filed a request on his behalf to play in the first LIV Golf Invitational in London, June 9-11. This request complies with the deadline of April 25 set forth by the PGA Tour to compete in a conflicting tour event.

"Phil currently has no concrete plans on when and where he will play. Any actions taken are in no way a reflection of a final decision made, but rather to keep all options open."

The PGA Championship will be played from May 19 to 22 and Mickelson's win at Kiawah Island last year at age 50 saw him become the oldest major champion. It also gave him a five-year exemption to the U.S. Open, which this year will be played outside Boston on June 16-19.

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