Mickelson, Westwood to miss Riyadh season opener; Schniederjans, Schmidt fill in

This week at the ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh, notable roster adjustments are in play for HyFlyers GC and Majesticks Golf Club, with both teams missing their captains. 

Phil Mickelson, captain of HyFlyers GC, is absent for the first two events of the season (Riyadh and next week's Adelaide stop) due to a family health matter. He made the announcement on social media, noting that he and his wife Amy need to remain present for it.

LIV Golf reserve Ollie Schniederjans will step in for Mickelson in Riyadh, joining the core lineup of Cameron Tringale, Brendan Steele, and recent addition Michael La Sasso, the 2025 NCAA individual champion making his pro debut.

For Majesticks Golf Club, Co-Captain Lee Westwood will also miss the first two events. The 52-year-old announced via social media that he suffered a wrist injury while preparing for this week’s event.

Ben Schmidt, who’s coming off a T16 finish at last week’s Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, will fill in for Westwood. The 23-year-old Englishman became the youngest-ever winner of the Brabazon Trophy (English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship) in 2019, winning by five shots while he was just 16 years old. That same year, he won two national titles, including the English Boys' U18 Open. He also represented Great Britain & Ireland in the 2021 Walker Cup as one of its youngest members.

Alongside Schmidt, Majesticks Golf Club’s roster will feature Co-Captain Ian Poulter, Sam Horsfield, and new signing Laurie Canter, as expected.

Both Mickelson and Westwood are expecteed to miss the rest of this month and be ready to play beginning at HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong.