He wasn’t too pleased with the PGA Tour in 2022. What was the rationale behind Lefty’s feelings? Well, the 54-year-old had dished out one too many, with his primary one being related to the limited media rights of PGA Tour Pros. Even so, he was receptive to the merger while celebrating the “awesome day” when the framework agreement was announced. But as times change, so does Phil Mickelson. The golfer, come June 2024, was spotted mentioning how LIV Golf’s presence has changed things in the sport. He even pointed out how the merger was ‘not necessary’.

“We have elevated events every week out here on LIV,” said Mickelson in an interview with Bloomberg, as per The Mirror. He also mentioned how the current situation on the PGA Tour was changing, all thanks to the PIF-funded circuit. “We have equity, and we have the ability to use our social media platforms however we want to promote the game. This is starting to change now, and is changing on the PGA Tour.”

The HyFlyers GC skipper was alluding to the recent happenings on the circuit, with Jay Monahan rolling out eight elevated events, providing a prize purse of $20 million per contest. Moreover, the deal that the league had with SSG led to the formation of the PGA TOUR Enterprises. This, in turn, allowed players to receive a portion of the revenue through the ‘Player Equity Program,’ similar to how LIV players hold ownership in the 13 teams.

Amidst all of these developments, the talks for the deal between PIF and the PGA Tour are still ongoing. Mickelson is now beginning to question the necessity of the entire process. “Is it necessary that there is a merger? Probably not,” said the golfer. “But it would be a good thing if there was not any hostility.”

The 54-year-old was hopeful that the situation would become much better for the whole sport, even if there was no merger. “I need to let that stuff go,” he added. “I need to let go of all of those experiences I have had in the past that were less than positive… of my hostilities, and we all do for the better of the game.” The professional seemed to be referring to the remarks he made about the men’s circuit two years ago.

Phil Mickelson’s anti-PGA Tour comments in 2022

Mickelson shared his thoughts on the Jay Monahan-led circuit with Golf Digest in February 2022. He highlighted how player freedom is restricted by the league when he said, “The players don’t have access to their own media. If the Tour wanted to end any threat, they could just hand back the media rights to the players… There are many issues, but that is one of the biggest.”

The golfer then recounted his experiences playing in ‘The Match’. Apparently, the LIV Golf Pro had to pay the circuit money to receive his own rights for the event. “When I did ‘The Match’ – there have been five of them – the tour forced me to pay them $1 million each time. For my own media rights. That type of greed is, to me, beyond obnoxious.”

The situation between Brandel Chamblee and Anthony Kim has most of Golf Twitter abuzz.

Their dispute has led to a broader discussion, with fans and media personalities questioning the state of professional golf and its enormous divide. Phil Mickelson received a cheap shot from Chamblee during this Twitter feud.

The six-time major winner eventually took to social media to respond to a fan calling the game of golf broken.

“OR, golf was broken and is in the process of being fixed,” Mickelson wrote in response. “1) average age of PGA tour viewers recently went from 60 to 65. 2) totally U.S. centric and no plan to globalize opportunities. 3) monopolistic control of media rights wouldn’t allow for players to use YouTube and other social platforms to promote the game to the next generation and working from within the Tour wasn’t an option. i.e. Bryson [DeChambeau]. What he’s doing now wasn’t allowed before LIV. Fixing the problem takes time, but it’s better than waiting for it to collapse entirely.”

Mickelson’s words sound familiar because PGA Tour fans have made the same critiques. Many feel that the Tour is lacking in certain areas.

For example, one of the most noticeable issues is the decline in television viewership. Despite Scottie Scheffler putting forth a historic performance at The Masters, ratings declined sharply.

LIV Golf may not be the answer, which its awful ratings illustrate. But it shows golf fans something different. Allowing Bryson DeChambeau to film and post on YouTube broadens the audience.

Just look at what happened with the Myrtle Beach Classic and YouTube Golf when they collaborated. Eight content creators competed against professional golfers in The Q at Myrtle Beach and they created a video about the whole thing. It brought in thousands of viewers on the video, and the crowds in Myrtle Beach were massive for an opposite-field event.

If anyone knows how strict the PGA Tour is with content, it is Ryan French, who runs the Monday Q Info account on X. He follows the Monday qualifiers and has had multiple videos and photos flagged over the years.

French’s concerns likely resonate with golf fans. It is sad to see golf this broken.

Mickelson’s suggestion that golf is being fixed feels far-fetched. It has almost been a year since the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF announced a deal, and nothing of note has been done.

LIV Golf seems to be in big trouble. The breakaway league’s persistence in sticking to its ways of promotion and relegation-less, 54-hole mix of individual and team events is against the OWGR’s guidelines. Considering the OWGR’s stringent stance in rejecting the Greg Norman-led league’s calls for inclusion, major championships are readily slipping away from the fingers of his pack of golf pros.

This has paved the way for the absence of many of its famous faces from the upcoming PGA Championship. Flushing It on X posted an ironic post where it was highlighted that despite the humongous purse, not even one golfer who compared in Singapore could qualify for the season’s second major. On the contrary, the Volvo China Open, a DPWT event with almost a 10-time smaller purse, had several players such as Adrian Otaegui qualify for the upcoming showdown at Valhalla.

“LIV can have the grandest of plans for their future, but getting players access to major championships should be their number one priority,” wrote Flushing It. However, famous LIV Golf flagbearer Phil Mickelson did not seem to agree and wrote “FAAFO.” For him, while the absence of LIV players might not be felt right now, it will be later on. Why? Mickelson had clear reasons.

With the increasing number of PGA Tour and DPWT pros defecting to the circuit including the likes of Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and Adrian Meronk, it will only be a matter of time before other pros join the Saudi-funded league. Additionally, the major championships have to become answerable to sponsors and television for a lot of things if the field continues to become less powerful.

Lefty posed a vital question and asked whether LIV golfers would be missed at the major championships at all if they didn’t play at all. Golf lovers seemed to blatantly disagree with Mickelson and had a plain answer to this question.

While many opined that it was the undoing of the pro and his circuit’s own decisions, others were quick to circle back the blame to the LIV golfers cast out of the system. So what did fans exactly have to say?

Fans react to Phil Mickelson’s counter to LIV Golf’s emergency

One fan wrote, “You have two tours with different models. One has players building a legacy and the other has players building a bank account. Each player has made their own decision which objective is more important to them. They need to stop trying to have both.” Pointing out the long-standing debate on the re-entry of LIV Golf defectors into the system, this fan’s comment screamed volume. According to them, the golfers who have chosen to stay out of the majors out of their love for the big bucks should stop whining because it was their own decision. The fan suggested that it was time the LIV Golf players stopped trying to make up for the losses they signed up for.

Another Twitter user pointed out, “lol. You’re an egomaniac,” giving a strong name to Phil Mickelson’s claims. According to them, the idea that LIV golfers will eventually bring the major championships on their knees did not sit right with this fan and they promptly laughed it off.

Yet another fan of golf remarked, “So IT IS about the money and not growing the game. Legacy etc…thanks for clarifying,” shunning down the Saudi-backed league’s strong claims of growing the game. LIV’s motto of making golf louder, and growing it seemed to have taken a back seat after Mickelson’s remarks, and this fan did not shy from pointing it out. They agreed that maybe all of this was for money and not the globalization of the game of golf.

Another user clarified, “LIV players chose hit and giggle tour. If they want play competitive golf, they know where to play.” This critique brought to the surface the entertainment-centered approach of the so-called “circus tour.” The fan even remarked that LIV Golf players made a choice, and if they truly wanted to make a re-entry they could work their way back.

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we didn’t think we could love the New York Knicks anymore, but then Josh Hart sent out the following tweet the day after knocking down the big shot to knock the Philadelphia 76ers out of the NBA Playoffs:

My man is in the midst of a title run and he’s still got golf on the brain? And angling for a JUNIOR membership to boot? What a legend. And how about this response from another New York legend, Justin Tuck?

Josh, I was going to offer to take you on a muny tour around Westchester, but I can’t compete with that offer. Anyway, good luck with your search—and with the Pacers. OK, here’s what else has us talking.

Brooks Koepka: Uh-oh, Brooks Koepka is rounding into form just in time for a major championship. A major he happens to be the defending champ at. This is a tale as old as time, but what made Koepka’s latest victory in Singapore extra special was that it was the first time he has been able to lift up his son, Crew, before hoisting up the trophy:

Phil Mickelson‘s schedule is a very different animal in 2024.

Up to 2022, his plans were PGA Tour-based and on the US circuit, he won 45 times and cashed in six major championships.

But in controversial fashion, the American joined the new Saudi-backed LIV Golf League and you could argue he was a pioneer of the new rival to the PGA Tour.

His last appearance on the PGA Tour came at the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open where he missed the cut. His time has since been occupied by the breakaway circuit run by CEO Greg Norman.

He is the captain of the Hy Flyers, a team consisting of Brendan Steele, Andy Ogletree and Cameron Tringale.In his first two seasons on the LIV Tour, Mickelson achieved just one top 10.

Let’s take a look at Lefty’s results so far in 2024 and what else is in store…

Phil Mickelson schedule 2024

LIV Golf Mayakoba (El Camaleon) 53
LIV Golf Las Vegas (Las Vegas Country Club) 31
LIV Golf Jeddah (Royal Greens Golf and Country Club) 9
LIV Golf Hong Kong (Hong Kong Golf Club) 53
LIV Golf Miami (Trump National Doral) 47
The Masters (Augusta National) T43
LIV Golf Adelaide: (The Grange) April 26-28
LIV Golf Singapore: (Sentosa Golf Club) May 3-5
PGA Championship: (Valhalla) May 16-19
LIV Golf Houston: (Golf Club of Houston) June 7-9
US Open (Pinehurst) 13-16 June
LIV Golf Nashville (The Grove) June 21-23
LIV Golf Andalucia (Valderrama) July 12-16
The Open (Troon) July 18-21
LIV Golf UK (JCB) July 26-28
LIV Golf Greenbrier (Old White) August 16-18

Phil Mickelson 2023 schedule and results

PIF Saudi International (Royal Greens Golf and Country Club) MC
LIV Golf Mayakoba (El Camaleon) 27
LIV Golf Tucson (The Gallery) 32
LIV Golf Orlando (Orange County National) 41
The Masters (Augusta National) T2
LIV Golf Adelaide (The Grange) 16
LIV Golf Singapore (Sentosa Golf Club) 15
LIV Golf Tulsa (Cedar Ridge) 45
PGA Championship (Oakhill) T58
LIV Golf DC (Trump National Golf Club) 44
US Open (LACC) MC
LIV Golf Andalucia (Valderrama) 26
LIV Golf London (Centurion) 41
The Open (Hoylake) MC
LIV Golf Greenbrier (Old White) 26
LIV Golf Bedminster (Trump National Bedminster) 10
LIV Golf Chicago (Rich Harvest Farms) 45
LIV Golf Jeddah (Royal Greens Golf and Country Club) 31

Phil Mickelson 2022 schedule and results

Sentry Tournament of Champions (Kapalua) T30
Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines) MC
Saudi International (Royal Greens) T18
LIV Golf London (Centurion) 34
US Open (The Country Club) MC
LIV Golf Portland (Pumpkin Ridge) T40
The Open (St Andrews) MC
LIV Golf Bedminster (Trump National) 35
LIV Golf Boston (The International) T40
LIV Golf Chicago (Rich Harvest Farms) T8
LIV Golf Bangkok (Stonehill) T15
LIV Golf Jeddah (Royal Greens) T35
LIV Golf Team Championship (Trump National Doral) QUARTER FINALS

Phil Mickelson’s prediction that LIV Golf is set to move to a 72-hole format could well be denied by one key issue – the breakaway league’s name.

Mickelson discussed the prospect of the Saudi-backed series moving from 54-hole tournaments to 72 across four rounds following his return to Augusta National at last week’s Masters. “We’ve got mini-tours playing 54, Champions Tour playing 54,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoy the competition.”

The comments came after his fellow LIV star Jon Rahm made calls for the breakaway circuit to adopt the same format for their events, a point he had previously been keen to make when initially making the Saudi switch last December.

“If there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes, I think it would help all of this argument a lot,” Rahm told the BBC. “The closer I think we can get LIV Golf to some other things the better. I think it would be for some kind of unification to feed into a world tour or something like that.

“I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes.” A move to four-round tournaments would no doubt help LIV’s hunt for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) recognition, as the league continues to host its events without OWGR points on offer to those competing.

The ranking system cited the league’s no-cut, limited-hole format as one of the key reasons behind their decision to reject LIV’s application for OWGR points last October. As mentioned by Mickelson, the move to 72 holes seems somewhat inevitable in theory if it is to continue to progress alongside the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson’s prediction that LIV Golf is set to move to a 72-hole format could well be denied by one key issue – the breakaway league’s name.

Mickelson discussed the prospect of the Saudi-backed series moving from 54-hole tournaments to 72 across four rounds following his return to Augusta National at last week’s Masters. “We’ve got mini-tours playing 54, Champions Tour playing 54,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoy the competition.”

The comments came after his fellow LIV star Jon Rahm made calls for the breakaway circuit to adopt the same format for their events, a point he had previously been keen to make when initially making the Saudi switch last December.

“If there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes, I think it would help all of this argument a lot,” Rahm told the BBC. “The closer I think we can get LIV Golf to some other things the better. I think it would be for some kind of unification to feed into a world tour or something like that.

“I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes.” A move to four-round tournaments would no doubt help LIV’s hunt for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) recognition, as the league continues to host its events without OWGR points on offer to those competing.

The ranking system cited the league’s no-cut, limited-hole format as one of the key reasons behind their decision to reject LIV’s application for OWGR points last October. As mentioned by Mickelson, the move to 72 holes seems somewhat inevitable in theory if it is to continue to progress alongside the PGA Tour.

IV Golf is yet to earn recognition from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) – which is causing some of the Saudi-backed league’s biggest stars to miss out on the majors

LIV Golf’s Talor Gooch wants the Saudi-backed league to stick by its 54-hole format – despite the likes of Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm suggesting otherwise.

LIV has split the world of golf since its launch in 2022 by attracting some of the biggest names in the sport – such as Mickelson, Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Cam Smith, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau – to leave the PGA Tour.

Those golfers have been paid handsomely for joining the breakaway league, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PGA Tour and the PIF are locked in talks over a merger to reunite the sport, but a deal is yet to be agreed.

Many of LIV’s initial critics, such as Rory McIlroy, have since softened their stance on the controversial circuit and it seems its here to stay. Yet LIV’s CEO Greg Norman has spent much of the last two years trying to secure recognition from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

OWGR points are needed for golfers to climb up the rankings and automatically qualify for the majors. Several big-name superstars will miss out on competing in some of the game’s biggest tournaments this year after plummeting down the rankings.

Garcia, for example, played at last week’s Masters as a former champion but is not expected to be involved at the Open Championship, the PGA Championship and the US Open due to his low place in the rankings. The likes of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, meanwhile, are set to miss out on all four majors this year.

Many fans would like to see LIV move from 54 to 72 holes to help resolve its OWGR issue, moving from three-day to four-day events. Mickelson said at the Masters: “We’ve got mini-tours playing 54, Champions Tour playing 54. I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoy the competition.”

While Rahm admitted when asked: “I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes.”

Yet Gooch has now tried to quash talk of LIV moving to a 72-hole format. Speaking ahead of LIV’s event in Singapore next month, Gooch said as per Bunkered: “It’s just funny to me, this arbitrary number of 72. Why is it not 90? Why is it not 108? We just decided to make that number the number, for what reason?

“Everyone’s talked about world ranking points and all this stuff, but no one’s talked about what do the fans enjoy more? People want something that’s going to be more exciting. And I personally think that the 54 holes is more exciting for the fans.”

LIV’s most recent attempt to secure ranking points was last October. “We are not at war with them,” Peter Dawson, chairman of the OWGR board, told the Associated Press. “This decision not to make them eligible is not political. It is entirely technical.

“LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked. They’re just not playing in a format where they can be ranked equitably with the other 24 tours and thousands of players trying to compete on them.”

The PGA Tour-PIF merger continues to haunt some of Golf’s sharpest minds. But Phil Mickelson is not one such golfer, despite his seniority. Ever since switching to LIV Golf and enduring a winless drought, the 53-year-old’s involvement in high-level matters, like the $3 billion merger, has been fading exponentially. His recent misfortune at the Masters just added to his misery as he finished at T43 with a total score of 8-over-par, a severe fall from his last year’s runner-up finish just 4 strokes behind the lead, Jon Rahm.

While many players, like the former year’s Masters winner Jon Rahm, have expressed that a decision on the merger might be sooner than expected, Phil Mickelson continues to stay in a darkness-filled cloud away from the top-level conversations. One such conversation recently held was between Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, and the rest of the Players Advisor Council in the Bahamas. But what is it that Mickelson knows of it?

Phil Mickelson’s take on the immediate possible future of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour

The six-time major winner has long been openly involved in the dealings of the new golf world order. Known for his outspokenness, his critique of Jay Monahan and admiration for the breakaway league have been making the rounds in the golf world for some time now.

But things seem to be different this time around for the former Kingpin. When asked what he thinks of the status of the long, impending merger between the two poles of the golf world, he said, “Others are handling that. I’m not involved. Others are taking care of that.

This comes as a shock to many, considering the huge gap in the involvement of a player like Mickelson in issues of such deep relevance. A few weeks prior, Mickelson openly criticized Jay Monahan for his mishandling of the LIV Golf situation in the early days of the Greg Norman-led league’s setup by reposting an article on X that referred to the PGA Tour Commissioner’s initial stance as rooted in “moral high ground” and as a “temporary self-serving position.”

The piece that Mickelson seemed to have supported, judged from his rampant repost of it, claimed, “There was never a concern over the source of the money, this fight was always purely about maintaining a monopoly and trying to prevent the power shift at the top of the sport from moving east. Hopefully, everyone can see that clearly now.”