Phil Mickelson set for first appearance of LIV Golf season in South Africa after missing Riyadh, Adelaide, Hong Kong and Singapore

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Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson will make his first appearance of the season as LIV Golf heads to South Africa for the first time, beginning March 19. Mickelson has missed the first four rounds of the season in Riyadh, Adelaide, Hong Kong and Singapore. Before the start of the campaign, he explained his time off, saying he was dealing with a "family health matter".

Highlights: Lee gifts DeChambeau LIV Golf Singapore after rain-hit Round Four

Video credit: TNT Sports

Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson will make his first appearance of the 2026 LIV Golf season in South Africa, with the event starting Thursday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Mickelson missed the first four rounds of the campaign in Riyadh, Adelaide, Hong Kong and Singapore, having cited a "family health matter" when his absence was announced for the Saudi Arabia and Australia rounds.

His team, HyFlyers GC, announced the news on social media on Monday. His return will serve as a significant boost, and will mark the first time Mickelson plays alongside last year's NCAA individual champion Michael La Sasso.

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In Mickelson's absence, reserve Ollie Schniederjans played the Riyadh round, before Wade Ormsby represented the team in Adelaide, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The 55-year-old's return is a promising sign for his Masters participation at Augusta National next month, as he aims to make a 34th appearance at the competition he has won three times.

HyFlyers GC have struggled in Mickelson's absence at the start of this season. They finished 13th in the season-opening Riyadh round, before placing 11th in Adelaide and Hong Kong. Their placement of 10th in Singapore represents their strongest performance thus far.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

LIV Golf is heading to Africa for the first time for this week's event, taking place at Steyn City from March 19-22.

It follows a dramatic conclusion to the Singapore round, which saw Bryson DeChambeau and Richard T. Lee embroiled in play-off drama.

DeChambeau had his head in his hands after Lee lipped out a simple two-footer for par and handed victory to the American, who admitted afterwards it was not the manner in which he wanted to win.

"I absolutely hated it. For Richard, he's been playing some unbelievable golf. He's beat me in a few of the rounds I've played with him, and he's a stellar player," DeChambeau told LIV Golf.

"I wanted to go another hole with him. As much as winning is great, I have a lot of respect for Richard and the way he golfs his ball up there, and it was quite impressive.

"I was coming down the last three holes and I think I'm one ahead of everybody and seeing Richard go and play the way he did finishing out, he's a real superstar and the league should be really proud to have him on as a wildcard."

DeChambeau devastated for Lee after wildcard loses play-off via 'brutal' lip-out

Video credit: TNT Sports

How to watch the LIV Golf 2026 season

TNT Sports will broadcast all 14 global events from the 2026 LIV Golf season.

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

To find out where your local establishments showing TNT Sports are, use our Pub Finder.

Here is the full TNT Sports schedule and TV guide.

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