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For several long-standing leagues, the introduction of LIV Golf caused problems. This is due to one simple fact: LIV Golf is the most lucrative league in golf. The biggest draw for golfers was obviously the enormous purse money. The prize pool for the competition is often a stunning $25 million. However, there is one item lacking for the circuit: OWGR rankings for LIV golfers.

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Many renowned players turned down the LIV golf offers for a variety of reasons, including loyalty and the absence of OWGR. Rory McIlroy, the star of the PGA Tour, prioritized legacy over money. Whereas the PGA Tour’s most colorful superstar, Phil Mickelson, joined the Saudi-backed circuit and everyone was stunned. Now both players are enjoying the fruits of their own leagues. But who is richer among them? Does Mickelson have an upper hand now that he is part of the most lucrative league?

2023 net worth of the golf icon Rory McIlroy

Four-time major winner McIlroy is one of the greatest players in the world. There is no denying the fact that the world no. 2 golfer dominates the PGA Tour. Do you know how much money he made from his league and other endorsements? The statistics will astound you.

In addition to being one of the most successful golfers, McIlroy is also one of the richest. McIlroy is this year’s third-highest-paid golfer, according to the Forbes ranking. Based on reports, he made $40 million this year on the course as of June 2023. And last year, the Northern Irish golfer won $26.7 million in prizes.

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Why Is Phil Mickelson Not Growing His Beard Anymore?

Phil Mickelson describes himself on his Instagram account as a “Husband, Lefty, LIV Golfer”. The 45-time PGA Tour winner has a 27-year strong relationship with his wife Amy Mickelson. The love he shares for his partner can be seen via the various mentions he has made throughout his career.

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While now the golfer is boasting the clean-shaven look, in 2022 he had grown his beard and mustache just to please his wife. So, what changed? His decision to get rid of his beard can also be attributed to his wife.

Is Phil Mickelson beardless because of his wife?

In the 2022 US Open, it was the first time LIV Golf detectors appeared in a major since joining the rebel league. During a heated press conference, one reporter tried to lighten the situation and asked Phil about his growing beard.

Throughout his career before, Mickelson wasn’t even seen sporting a beard. Mickelson revealed the beard was there because his wife liked it. His comment highlighted the nature of the relationship they share.

But that was 2022. Of late Phil has not been seen wearing a beard. It appears Mrs Mickelson has changed her mind about the beard book. Commendably, the couple have been together for the last 27 years through thick and thin.

Phil Mickelson and Amy over the years

The duo got hitched in 1996 and have three children together. Whether it was when Mickelson took a much-needed break to be there for his wife while she battled cancer or when Amy stood by him as Lefty recovered from his betting addictions, they’ve seen all the hardships and went through them hand in hand.

Sharing his gratitude on Instagram while confessing the dark past, Phil said, “She has loved me and supported me through my darkest and most difficult times…Because of her love, support, and commitment, I’m back on track to being the person I want to be.”

Their relationship has indeed stood the test of time. Everyone deserves a relationship as pure and strong as that of Phil and Amy. The golfer is currently preparing for the LIV Golf Jeddah.

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“Throw the First Punch”: Phil Mickelson’s Grim Face Gets Revealed After His Nemesis

Uncharted fame brings within self a variety of unsolicited opinions and public scrutiny of even the tiniest of movements. Such is the fate of Phil Mickelson who received much fame at the earlier part of his career and since then has been in constant limelight.

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While hundreds of media information circulate about him every day sometimes some hurtful comments find their way to him and leave some damage. And such an exact incident happened with Mickelson in the 1999 PGA Championship when he came face to face with his nemesis Alan Shipnuck.

When Phil Mickelson fiercely confronted journalist Alan Shipnuck

Phil Mickelson’s life choices have always been a subject matter of media debate. When he chose to move on with LIV Golf this decision received much highlight. But this was always the case with him. Even two decades ago when Mickelson was suffering from an eating disorder his problem was much pursued by a media person.

Last month, sports journalist Alan Shipnuck released a book named Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar in which he covered the life and career of the lefty. In an extract in this book, Shipnuck explains how Mickelson confronted him after the 1999 PGA Championship at a press conference because of his remarks.

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Not Phil Mickelson, but the Better Ranked ‘Lefty’ Makes a Bold ‘Fortnite’ Confession Despite

Fortnite has been nothing short of a cultural icon ever since its release in 2017. Although the battle royale has been extremely popular among the younger generation of gamers, there are cases where a lot of adults engage in this multiplayer platform. And now, a certain LIV Golfer has made it into the spotlight due to his love for the same.

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There have been many instances where the realm of golf interacts with that of video games. Similar has been the case with the player, who expressed his affection for the game while revealing himself to be a ‘Lefty’, and surprisingly, it’s not Phil Mickelson!

LIV golfer reveals to be a part of the Fortnite frenzy

With the inception of the PIF-funded league, a lot of spotlight was brought to the players who defected to the Saudi-backed circuit. But now, a LIV golfer has found himself turning heads for a completely different reason ahead of the event in Jeddah. Joaquin Niemann, a while back, disclosed some truths about Fortnite in his life that drew a lot of attention from both communities.

The 24-year-old shared a video on the official Instagram handle where he mentioned how the golfer still plays the game during his off-time. Moreover, he disclosed how he would not spend not more than two hours in the multiplayer.

The video showcases the Chilean warming up ahead of what can be guessed as a practice round or a run at the gym. But nevertheless, the training coupled with some Fortnite on his break time to ease the tensions has helped him a lot for sure seeing as how the little-known left-hander is in 21st place as opposed to the popular ‘Lefty’ who is at 38 in the 2023 standings before the season-ending tournament in Jeddah.

It does not come as a surprise when a golfer has his life entangled with the world of video games. Although not to this extent, there has been another similar case where the professional found himself unable to endure the frenzy, and it’s none other than Ian Poulter.

Ian Poulter unable to escape from Fortnite fever

The 47-year-old shared a story on his Instagram handle which showcased a video of his son, Joshua, playing the Epic Games release. The youngster, an avid gamer, was seen communicating with his friends while making sure they were ready to be dropped off on the map at the start of the game.

The English professional was spotted to be in a surprise of sorts as he asked his son what he was playing. The 11-year-old went on to answer his Dad’s question while getting ready to play the game. The duo seems too good to be true, right? Well, that’s the truth!

What do you think? Do you reckon a good game of Fortnite can ease the tensions that athletes accumulate during their performance

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Not a LIV Golf Defector But Phil Mickelson Holds a Higher Place in This PGA Tour Loyalist’s Heart

By Richie October 9, 2023

Team US lost the Ryder Cup in a saddening manner. The loss raised a few questions about the team’s leadership, missing key players from LIV Golf, and lack of teamwork. The public and experts alike wondered what was missing in the team that the Europeans had. Was it Rory McIlroy or Jon Rahm?

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Hunter Mahan, the three-time Ryder Cupper, shared his thoughts on what Team US lacked. He said there was a missing leader like Phil Mickelson at the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup.

Hunter Mahan calls Phil Mickelson an “Incredible leader”

Hunter Mahan and Phil Mickelson’s friendship goes back to the early days of his career. Mahan made his debut in 2003 and has won one Ryder Cup through his 3 appearances. He was on the 2008 Ryder Cup team with Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink, and Rickie Fowler at Valhalla when Team US dominated team Europe and won by 16 1⁄2 and 11 1⁄2 score. Coincidentally, Team US lost by the same points at this year’s Ryder Cup.

The veteran made an appearance on the Golf Digest podcast Loop and shared an element that was missing and which caused the US Team’s upsetting loss. Mahan explained the importance of having a leader other than the captain. He said having a player who can say, “Are you bleeping ready to go?” is crucial for a team’s spirit and momentum.

While discussing about excluding players from LIV Golf affected American gameplay, He reminisced over one player whose addition had benefitted the team. And who came out as the leader at the 2010 Ryder Cup? It was none other than Phil Mickelson. Mahan claimed Mickelson to be an “Incredible and credible leader.”

He also said that the one guy who was missing from the LIV Golf was Mickelson. “Because Phil can get up and stand up in front of everybody. And everyone’s gonna listen. Yeah, and there’s a passion to him and there really is for all the c**p that he’s taken,” Mahan said. Adding more, Hunter explained his bias towards Mickelson and said, ‘I can’t say anything bad about him because he has been so important to me.” The veterans have a strong camaraderie, as Mickelson had helped Mahan at the emotional turn of his career.

Phil Mickelson lands a helping hand to Hunter Mahan

At the 2010 Ryder Cup, the victory depended on 1 single point. It was Hunter Mahan against Graeme McDowell in the singles match. If Mahan had secured that win, Team US could have won on European soil after 17 years. Unfortunately, Mahan lost that match and the Cup for the country.

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Phil Mickelson Working on His Gambling Addiction

Golfing legend Phil Mickelson has posted a tweet disclosing his intention to stop gambling, admitting that he has crossed the line past moderation into addiction. The 53-year-old American also revealed that he has received professional help for many years and is in recovery.

Public Admission

Micelson’s public admission of a gambling addiction comes barely a month after renowned gambler Billy Walters wrote in his book that Mickelson wagered more than $1 billion over the last three decades and wanted to place a $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup while playing for Team USA. Mickelson denied ever betting on the Ryder Cup.

In his lengthy post, Mickelson said he won’t bet on football this season and opened up on his struggles and how he’s on the road to being “the person I want to be”.

He admitted that he had crossed the line of moderation and entered into addiction, which he said “isn’t any fun at all”.

“The money wasn’t ever the issue since our financial security has never been threatened, but I was so distracted I wasn’t able to be present with the ones I love and caused a lot of harm,”

He also offered advice to anyone who might be struggling with similar issues:

“If you ever cross the line of moderation and enter into addiction, hopefully you won’t confuse your enablers as friends like I did.”

Mickelson’s statement has been widely covered in the media, with many outlets reporting on his admission of addiction and his efforts to repair the damage it caused.

He also thanked his wife for her support during his recovery process, saying:

“I couldn’t have gotten through this without her. I’m so grateful for her strength in helping us get through the many challenges I’ve created for us. … Because of her love, support and commitment, I’m back on track to being the person I want to be.”

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Tiger Woods orchestrated Phil Mickelson’s British Open dinner snub, new book claims

At the height of the rivalry between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, the battle between the two leagues felt more like the equivalent of the war between WCW and the WWE in the 1990s, and at other times, it mirrored a high school spat.

When it comes to how Tiger Woods had Phil Mickelson snubbed from a private dinner during the week of the 150th Open Championship in 2022, it certainly seemed more like the latter.

According to an excerpt from Alan Shipnuck’s upcoming book “LIV and Let Die,” Woods had Mickelson kept out of a private dinner for Open winners held at the R&A clubhouse.

The Open was taking place shortly after LIV Golf had launched its first event in June 2022, and tensions were high between golfers from the Saudi-backed league and those who remained loyal to the PGA Tour.

Woods, according to Shipnuuck, took it upon himself to have the defector kept out of the gathering.

“He talked to a handful of other [past champions] to get their blessing and then went to the R&A and told them, basically, no one wanted Phil there and it would make the night weird and awkward,” one man at the dinner said. “Whose side were they going to take,Tiger’s or Phil’s? That’s an easy choice.

Mickelson had told reporters last year that the R&A advised him not to partake in activities for past champions during tournament week.

He didn’t mention any pressure being put on the R&A to keep him away from events.

“The R&A contacted me a couple weeks before and said, ‘Look, we don’t think it’s a great idea you go, but if you want to, you can,’’’ Mickelson said to reporters at the time. “I just didn’t want to make a big deal about it, so I said, ‘Fine.’ We both kind of agreed that it would be best if I didn’t.’

Things have certainly shifted quite a bit in the golf world since then.

LIV Golf and the PGA Tour announced a merger in June that stunned the sports world.

The situation remains fluid, as the deal has faced scrutiny from regulators, and other bidders have emerged for the PGA.

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Phil Mickelson’s gambling losses totaled nearly $100 million

The following is an excerpt from “Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk,” by Billy Walters. This article first appeared in Fire Pit Collective, a Golf Digest content partner. The book comes out on Aug. 23 and is published by Simon & Schuster.

I first met Phil Mickelson in 2006 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Northern California. Swedish pro Freddie Jacobson and I made the cut and, as fate would have it, we were paired with Phil and his amateur partner.

Phil and Freddie were on their way to a pair of 77’s and a tie for thirty-eighth place. Throughout the final round, Phil and I talked nothing but sports, oblivious to the beguiling beauty of the Monterey Peninsula and one of my favorite courses in the world. It was evident that he knew of my sports-gambling success and was trying to connect on that level.

Despite his bloated score that day, Phil’s brilliance as a golfer was in full bloom. Throughout the years, I have played with many PGA Tour pros and, frankly, Phil had another gear that most others don’t have. He was also willing to put it all on the line and risk losing a golf tournament to hit one miraculous shot. A man after my own heart!

In May 2008, I was invited to play in another Pro-Am at the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a guest of the bank. I bumped into Phil in the locker room. This time, he was more direct.

“I hear you do partnerships,” he said.

“I do,” I said. “But only if someone has access to places I can’t bet. Or places where they can bet more money than me.”

Phil had both. After the Wachovia meeting, we kept in touch and eventually entered into a gambling partnership that lasted five years. During that time, we played a few dozen rounds of golf together, most of them in Southern California. We always had a small bet on the line—usually $10,000—but our matches were never about money. We became what I thought were friends. If you’ve ever had a golf buddy, you know what I’m talking about.

More than once throughout our betting partnership, I found myself compelled to offer some quiet counsel to help Phil avoid some of the same issues that plagued me as a younger man. I want to make clear that I’m the last person to criticize someone for an addiction to anything

From the start, our betting agreement—one we verbally negotiated—called for us to split everything fifty-fifty. Phil put up half the money; I put up the other half. That way, we shared an equal amount of risk and reward.

Phil Mickelson

Phil said he had two offshore accounts that would take big action from him. In all the decades I’ve worked with partners and beards, Phil had accounts as large as anyone I’d seen. You don’t get those types of accounts without betting millions of dollars.

My reason for partnering with him was simple. Given my reputation in the gambling world, my limits with Phil’s two bookmakers were roughly $20,000 a game on college and $50,000 on the pros. Even after our fifty-fifty split, Phil’s limits of $400,000 on college at offshore sportsbooks and another $400,000 on the NFL enabled me to at least double my limits. Phil also had a $100,000 limit on college over/under bets with each book, twenty times my maximum.

By his own admission, Phil was worth an estimated $250 million during our time betting together (he collected a reported $50 million annually in endorsements alone). We agreed that anytime our winnings or losses reached $3 million, we would settle up. In truth, I was no more worried about Phil paying me $3 million than an average person owing me a thousand bucks.

In the beginning, I didn’t know Phil’s betting habits or background, so I did some research. My strategy was to emulate his betting patterns to disguise the fact that it was Billy Walters, not Phil Mickelson, placing the bets. I followed his patterns, betting at the same time, in similar amounts, dogs or favorites, riding his horses as long as we could.

The first six months of our agreement ran like Secretariat. The offshore bookies failed to detect anything different in the pattern of Phil’s bets other than that he was winning far more often. Despite our best efforts to keep the two accounts alive, it wasn’t long before the offshore bookies closed them. They told Phil the bets were far more disciplined than usual, so they knew they weren’t solely his. He could resume betting, they said, but only if it was on his own. This led Phil to activate a formerly dormant account for our partnership.

As I said, Phil liked to gamble as much as anyone I’ve ever met. Frankly, given Phil’s annual income and net worth at the time, I had no problems with his betting. And still don’t. He’s a big-time gambler, and big-time gamblers make big bets. It’s his money to spend how he wants.

In late September 2012, Phil called me from Medinah Country Club just outside Chicago, site of the 39th Ryder Cup matches between the United States and Europe. He was feeling supremely confident that the American squad led by Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, and Phil himself was about to reclaim the Cup from the Euros. He was so confident that he asked me to place a $400,000 wager for him on the U.S. team to win.

I could not believe what I was hearing.

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” I told him. “Don’t you remember what happened to Pete Rose?” The former Cincinnati Reds manager was banned from baseball for betting on his own team. “You’re seen as a modern-day Arnold Palmer,” I added. “You’d risk all that for this? I want no part of it.’’

“Alright, alright,” he replied.

I have no idea whether Phil placed the bet elsewhere. Hopefully, he came to his senses, especially considering the “Miracle at Medinah.” Trailing 10-6 going into the final day of singles matches, the Europeans pulled off the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history. They won eight matches and tied one to beat the Americans by a single point, 14½ to 13½.

Phil’s loss to Justin Rose that Sunday contributed to the stunning defeat.

After my betting partnership with Phil ended in the spring of 2014, I learned a lot more about his sports gambling from two very reliable sources.

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Tiger Woods ‘barred Phil Mickelson from attending dinner at

Did Tiger Woods bar rival and LIV Golf defector Phil Mickelson from a private dinner for Open Championship winners at St. Andrews in 2022?

As detailed in Alan Shipnuck’s upcoming book, LIV And Let Die, Woods allegedly demanded that Mickelson be banned from the event, which took place at the height of the legal battle between the two golf circuits. The two rival tours have since agreed to a controversial merger, the details of which are still being negotiated.

LIV’s first event took place in June of 2022 and there were lingering animosity over Mickelson and other defectors being permitted to participate in golf’s annual majors.

So when it came time for previous Open winners to dine together at the 268-year-old club, Woods reportedly took it upon himself to ensure Mickelson wasn’t welcomed.

‘He talked to a handful of other [past champions] to get their blessing and then went to the R&A and told them, basically, no one wanted Phil there and it would make the night weird and awkward,’ one attendee told Shipnuck. ‘Whose side were they going to take,Tiger’s or Phil’s? That’s an easy choice.’

At the time, Mickelson told reporters that the R&A advised him against participating in that and similar events.

‘The R&A contacted me a couple weeks before and said, ‘Look, we don’t think it’s a great idea you go, but if you want to, you can,’ Mickelson told the media. ‘I just didn’t want to make a big deal about it, so I said, ‘Fine.’ We both kind of agreed that it would be best if I didn’t.’

Woods was among the most outspoken critics of LIV Golf when it began luring PGA players with nine-figure deals, resulting in a legal battle between the two golf circuits.

His presence on the PGA Tour’s policy board came as a great relief to friend and rival Rory McIlroy, who thanked the injured golf legend in August for representing the players amid the controversial merger with Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

‘The player that, especially over the last 20 years, has left the biggest legacy on the game, for him to be involved in the discussions around the future of professional golf and what that may look like is very important,’ McIlroy said.

‘Tiger’s stepped up for all of us on Tour and I think he realizes all the players on the policy board are trying to play regular golf and at the same time trying to navigate all these different things as well, so he’s maybe got a little bit more time on his hands than we do.

‘So for him to step up and sort of take a little bit of the load off us is very much appreciated.’

Woods and McIlroy have been the biggest advocates of the established tours in their battle with LIV Golf, but were kept in the dark before the shocking announcement of a deal between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls LIV.

BOXING

Amid Tiger Woods’ Tragic Hiatus, Terence Crawford Vows to Fill In Billionaire Golfer’s Shoes While Detailing His New Achievement

By Richie October 6, 2023

On July 29, Terence Crawford entered history books as the first man to become a two-division undisputed champion. For a man who has been active in the sport for the past fifteen years, he no longer needed to justify himself to those who questioned his legacy. However, time is running against him. He turned thirty-six last week. Hence, soon after the victory over Errol Spence Jr., he has been gunning for the next big match.

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However, that doesn’t mean that Crawford has forgotten what it means to have fun. The Omaha-born Southpaw seems to have found a new love: golf. He shared clips of his adventures at the golf course early today with fans and followers. With Golf Hall of Famer Tiger Woods remaining out of the scene on account of health issues, on a lighter note, it seems like the sport has gained a new star who even changed his name to bring out the inner golfer in him, much to everyone’s amusement.

The Nebraskan first displayed his Ping Hieoki luxury brand kit in Instagram stories. Fans can hear the world champion in the background: “You all see it? Call me Terence Woods, about to hit the 300-yard bar. They don’t believe in me. I believe in myself. Dope, let’s get it.” The moment he said to call him “Terence Woods,” everyone around him erupted into a big laughter.

The following clip shows him at the course. Crawford checks with one of the officials, “How…how far was it?” And pat came the reply, “306.” Happy with the job done, the Welterweight champion said, “I’m out here, and they said I couldn’t do it, so I had to prove him wrong. 306 baby, I’m like that. Call me Terrence Woods…Terrence Woods.” Once again, those who accompanied him let out a huge bellow of laughter.

The final clip shows him looking through a sizable collection of golf clubs that Tiger Woods and other famous players most likely used. He said, “You know I want my majors..here clubs, Tiger Woods ain’t here with me.” One of the persons drew his attention: “He (Tiger Woods) is over here.” From one of the racks came a gold-plated club with Tiger Woods, 1995 US Amateur Champion written on it.

Where else the ‘Bud’ can bloom?

For sure, Terence Crawford was having a gala of a time. As regards the ring, he reportedly made it clear that he would no longer be chasing Jermell Charlo after his defeat at the hands of Canelo Alvarez. As many fans might remember, he has also called out the Mexican champion. But, with so many options available, only time will tell whether the Super Middleweight champion will reciprocate. But otherwise, there have been questions about Crawford’s willingness to climb three divisions – whether the move would be prudent.