Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Phil Mickelson has done little to keep the peace in golf’s delicate power struggle by suggesting that there will “undoubtedly” be another swathe of PGA Tour stars who join LIV golf in the near future. The six-time major champion made the claim despite a ‘framework agreement’ being put in place between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-funded breakaway league that is supposed to see both parties working alongside each other in a harmonious fashion. And in a further blow to the sport’s status quo, fellow LIV rebel Ian Poulter believes that there will be a similar exodus to the lucrative LIV set-up from DP World Tour players as well. Mickelson’s claims carry more credence than many observers may realise thanks to an agreement between the warring tours being quietly dropped. The so-called ‘framework agreement’ included a clause that was agreed between LIV investors the Private Investment Fund (PIF) and both the PGA and DP World Tours. The agreement said that while negotiations continued over how the tours would all work together, LIV would not try to attract more players from the two established tours to come across to their own tour. But this clause has since been dropped by all parties when the US Department of Justice raised concerns that the agreement raised concerns on anti-competition grounds. As a result, LIV is free to act as it pleases, luring more top names to the breakaway league with the promise of huge prize money and guaranteed earnings. Former PGA Stars like Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson – all former major winners – have made the switch already, as well as household names like Bryson DeChambeau and Mickelson himself. The LIV league is reaching it’s conclusion for the 2023 season, with $50m up for grabs in the team finale at Trump Doral this Sunday. And once the on-course business is taken care of, ‘Lefty’ believes that will signal the opening of the door for new signings. Speaking to The Telegraph, Mickelson said: “LIV needs to keep evolving. But we have only been around a year and a half and look at the quality of players that we have already. And that’s going to continue to improve next year and it’s going to continue to improve the following year.” When asked if that meant more players were about to defect from the PGA Tour, he added: “Do I think that? “No. I KNOW that’s going to happen. When players look at LIV, they are wanting to be a part of it. Everybody here is happy and enjoying what we are doing and enjoying the team aspect of it and the camaraderie and all the benefits that come with playing this tour. “The reality is, I’ve been fielding calls, as we all have, from players who are free agents to PGA Tour players who want to come over. So the question is how many spots are available? There’s a lot more players that want to come than there are spots.” Britain has its own party of LIV rebels on the tour, led by former Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Lee Westood. Poulter also seems convinced that European tour competitors will also follow his lead and try and break into the LIV set-up. Poulter said: “I am not going to give any names, but we’ve been contacted about players wanting to join. And that’s no surprise. Think about it, they’ll probably get fined, but if a player takes that chance, pays say $50,000 or whatever, then he makes it into the top three then he will earn minimum $1.75 million in 14 events in 2024. That’s minimum. Even if they shoot level 80s every week.” Related GolfPhil Mickelson 0 Richie Website Related Posts Is Gervonta Davis Better Than Terence Crawford? Floyd Mayweather Dragged In to Argue a Point July 4, 2024 Phil Mickelson Was Never Anti-Merger, Lefty’s Recent PGA Tour-PIF Remarks Are a Dramatic Turn From His ‘Awesome Day’ Stance July 4, 2024 Anthony Joshua is ‘a different character’ under Ben Davison July 4, 2024 Write A Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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