When Phil Mickelson turns 50 in June, he'll have the option of playing on the Champions Tour. However, don't expect Lefty to switch to the senior circuit anytime soon, especially with the way he's swinging it at the moment.
"When I stop hitting bombs, I'll play the Champions Tour," Mickelson said at his press conference at The American Express. "But I'm hitting some crazy bombs right now."
Mickelson ranked 24th in average clubhead speed on the PGA Tour in 2019, ahead of notable bombers Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, and Justin Thomas. He was also 19th in driving distance.
"There's no reason I couldn't play out here. I hit the ball every bit as far. Usually, as guys get in their 40s, they regress. I had a 5-6 mph clubhead speed increase last year."
He attested his increase in speed to a much better work ethic in the gym and in the kitchen. Mickelson's realization of how much he loves to compete on the PGA Tour led to him adopting a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to prolong his career.
Despite possessing the confidence required to remain on the PGA Tour and his goal of making the 2020 Ryder Cup team, the 49-year-old didn't completely rule out the possibility of a switch to the Champions Tour as early as this year.
"I am curious to see how the first six months go and then I'll start to weigh some decisions," Mickelson continued. "But there's a chance that if I do what I expect, I may end up competing for years out here. And there's a chance that maybe I'm misguided in my thinking and that I should move over. But a lot will be decided or seen in the first six months."
Starting at this week's tournament in Palm Springs, Mickelson will play the next four weeks, including a trip to Saudi Arabia for a European Tour event.
