Michael La Sasso didn’t get Phil Mickelson in the winner’s circle with him. But he did get a text. The 22-year-old closed with a bogey-free 65 to win LIV Golf Indianapolis, his first professional title. But the moment carried an obvious subplot. Mickelson was the reason La Sasso is on LIV Golf at all. Asked if it was bittersweet not having his captain there to share it, La Sasso made it clear the bond didn’t need him in the room.
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“No, he sent us a text last night. I know he was watching and said it was the most fun he’s had. I’m sure he was looking at us, and I’m thankful for everything he has done,” he said.
Moreover, when asked how important Mickelson was to his decision to join the HyFlyers, Le Sasso didn’t hold back either.
“Yeah, he’s an absolute legend of the game. He was absolutely unbelievable to me the entire year. I really can’t thank him enough for everything he did for me.”
His emotional reaction to the moment isn’t without precedent. Firstly, he had entered the week with a single top-30 finish all season. But the week saw him hold a share of the lead from Friday onwards before fending off a closing 63 from Jon Rahm on Sunday. He finished at 18 under, one shot clear, to become the youngest winner in the league’s history.
Secondly, La Sasso had options when he turned pro. The North Carolina native was the reigning NCAA champion from Ole Miss and ranked No. 2 in PGA Tour University’s Class of 2026 standings, behind Virginia’s Ben James and ahead of Texas’ Christiaan Maas. He had already made six PGA Tour starts as an amateur. Naturally, that standing pointed toward a traditional PGA Tour route.
Instead, in January 2026, Phil Mickelson recruited him personally to join HyFlyers GC, turning pro immediately. As a result, he even forfeited the Masters exemption that came with his NCAA title.
Mickelson was a driving force behind that decision. He often called La Sasso one of the most exciting young players in the game, pointing to his power, feel, and work ethic as the reasons he’d make HyFlyers GC stronger. The deal itself was a multi-year contract, carrying 14 guaranteed starts and undisclosed guaranteed money, the kind of security no amateur turning pro could get on the PGA Tour.
The caveat, however, was the guidance mostly stopped once the season began. Mickelson played just once in 2026, stepping away for a private family health matter and separately facing misconduct allegations. La Sasso spent most of the year outside the top 30, even at one point sitting in LIV’s relegation zone. He leaned on his teammate Brandon Steele to navigate his way.
That said, his win is a big moment, sure, but it comes at a critical point for the league itself. LIV’s Team Championship in Michigan was cancelled, making Indianapolis the official season finale.
Although LIV said in August that it had reached a board-approved agreement with an unnamed lead investor to fund the league from 2027 through 2030, the transaction had not yet been finalized and key details, including the investor’s identity, financing terms and player-commitment conditions, remained unclear.
That leaves La Sasso’s situation genuinely open. His multi-year contract only holds value if the league itself survives. If it doesn’t, his likeliest paths back into competitive golf run through the Asian Tour, the DP World Tour, and the PGA Tour, which are now in alliance. For now, La Sasso doesn’t know when he plays next. He just knows who got him here.