Phil Mickelson on LIV Golf's Future: 'I Think There’s a Lot of Possibilities'
Oct 29, 2022
DORAL, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 28: Team Captain Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC plays a shot on the driving range during the quarterfinals of the LIV Golf Invitational - Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on October 28, 2022 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
As the inaugural season for LIV Golf draws to a close this weekend in Miami, Phil Mickelson is optimistic about the circuit's future.
Speaking to Adam Woodard of GolfWeek, Mickelson said he doesn't know where LIV is going to go but he's excited to be part of it.
"I think there’s a lot of possibilities and I’m not sure how it’ll play out," he explained. "I just know that in the next, over the course of the next year, a lot of stuff is going to happen, and things will kind of iron themselves out."
Mickelson was criticized after he spoke to golf writer Alan Shipnuck about Saudi Arabia's "horrible record on human rights" but said he would consider working with the Saudi-backed LIV Tour "because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."
Shipnuck published the comments, which made during an interview for a Mickelson biography, in February on the Fire Pit Collective website.
Lefty announced on Feb. 22 he would temporarily step away from the PGA Tour due to backlash from his comments. He returned to the course on June 8 after signing with LIV for a deal worth around $200 million, per Brentley Romine of Golf Channel.
As LIV Golf continues to face criticism as a sportswashing tool for the Saudi Arabian government, the circuit is planning for an increased schedule in 2023. This season only featured eight tournaments, including the team championship in Miami this weekend.
Per Alex Miceli of Sports Illustrated, LIV officials were circulating a tentative schedule for next year with 14 events starting in February and ending in September.
Mickelson is among several former PGA Tour stars who jumped ship to join LIV. Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson also signed up for the new circuit.
In seven LIV tournaments this season, Mickelson finished outside the top 20 five times. His best finish was a tie for eighth place in Chicago in September.
Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka Losses Headline LIV Golf Invitational Series 2022 Day 1
Oct 28, 2022
Australian golfer Cameron Smith plays his shot on the 15th hole during the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Miami at Trump National Doral Miami golf club in Miami, Florida, on October 28, 2022. (Photo by Giorgio VIERA / AFP) (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)
LIV Golf held the quarterfinals of its team championship on Friday at the Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami.
Below, we'll take a look at the scores and key moments from the day of golf.
Results
Smash GC def. Niblicks GC, 2-1
Brooks Koepka lost to Harold Varner III, 4&3
Peter Uihlein def. James Piot, 5&3
Jason Kokrak and Chase Koepka def. Turk Pettit and Hudson Swafford, 2&1
Majesticks GC def. Iron Heads GC, 3-0
Ian Poulter def. Kevin Na, 4&2
Lee Westwood def. Anthony Kim, 4&3
Sam Horsfield and Henrik Stenson def. Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai, 4&2
Cleeks GC def. Torque GC, 2-1
Shergo Al Kurdi lost to Joaquin Niemann, 5&3
Laurie Canter def. Jediah Morgan, 1 up
Graeme McDowell and Richard Bland def. Scott Vincent and Adrian Otaegui, 2 up
Punch GC def. Hy Flyers GC, 2-1
Cameron Smith def. Phil Mickelson, 1 up
Marc Leishman def. Matthew Wolff, 4&2
Matt Jones and Wade Ormsby lost to Bernd Wiesberger and Cameron Tringale, 3&2
Highlights
The most anticipated match of the day was Smith facing Mickelson, and it lived up to the hype, coming down to the final hole, where Smith prevailed:
So the semfinals are now set, with Aces GC set to take on Cleeks, the Crushers facing Stinger, Fireballs taking on Punch GC and Smash GC facing Majesticks.
The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series remains a controversial competition, with its critics accusing it of being a sportswashing enterprise existing to gloss over Saudi Arabia's history of human-rights violations.
The Trump National Doral Golf Club is owned by former President Donald Trump's Trump Organization. Trump is currently the subject of various congressional, federal and state investigations, ranging from his potentially illegal business practices to his reported withholding of sensitive government documents after he was no longer president.
Rory McIlroy Says Phil Mickelson's Comments on PGA Tour, LIV Golf Aren't 'Logical'
Oct 19, 2022
PATHUM THANI, THAILAND - OCTOBER 09: Team Captain Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC plays his shot from the ninth tee during Day Three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Bangkok at Stonehill Golf Course on October 09, 2022 in Pathum Thani, Thailand. (Photo by Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
The war of words between Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson continued Wednesday, with the PGA Tour star disagreeing with Lefty's assessment of the state of men's professional golf.
Before last week's LIV Golf event in Saudi Arabia, Mickelson said joining the new circuit has put him "on the winning side of how things are going to evolve and shape in the coming years for professional golf."
Speaking to reporters ahead of the CJ Cup, McIlroy explained why "anyone that takes a logical view of the game of golf" would disagree with Mickelson's assessment:
"I guess for them to be talking the way they are, it's bold.
I think there's a ton of propaganda being used and all sorts of stuff. I certainly don't see the PGA Tour trending downward at all. All the talent, 95% of the talent is here. You've got people like Tom Kim coming through [who is] the future of our game."
Mickelson also said members of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour need to sit down to work out some of their issues, but that he sees LIV "trending upwards" and "the PGA Tour trending downwards and I love the side that I'm on."
LIV golfers don't receive points in the Official World Golf Rankings because the circuit isn't officially accredited by the OWGR. Dave Shedloski of Golf Digest noted on Oct. 6 that LIV's partnership with the MENA Tour may have been an attempt to circumvent the OWGR review process for eligibility.
As LIV has tried to build a case for being a legitimate golf organization, LIV CEO Greg Norman met with a Republican Study Committee in Washington D.C. last month to discuss the circuit's validity.
Per Emily Brooks of The Hill, Norman received pushback from the conservative caucus due to LIV being financed by the Saudi Arabia government.
"Don’t come in here and act like you’re doing some great thing while you’re pimping a billion dollars of Saudi Arabian money and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the United States," Texas Rep. Chip Roy told reporters after the meeting.
Roy went on to say that Norman's efforts were "PR for Saudi Arabia—it’s PR for LIV Golf."
As LIV leaders continue to fight for the circuit's recognition, McIlroy has been outspoken about Mickelson and other golfers leaving the PGA Tour for LIV.
Mickelson was quoted by Alan Shipnuck in February for an upcoming biography as saying the Saudi Arabia government was run by "scary motherf--kers" who "killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights," but joining LIV was "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."
McIlroy told reporters at the time that Mickelson's comments were "naive, selfish, egotistical, ignorant." He did back off that stance in May ahead of the PGA Championship.
"He’s made decisions, and, you know, he’s had to live with certain consequences of that," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "But I think at this point, it’s like, you know, OK, people could say there were some actions, but for the most part, they were words. And I think people can be forgiven for words."
McIlroy has taken a hard-line stance in favor of the PGA Tour. He and Tiger Woods led a players-only meeting in August in which they developed a plan to increase prize payouts.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced on Aug. 24 that top players on the circuit have committed to playing in at least 20 events in 2023 and 12 elevated tournaments will have average prize purses of $20 million.
The Player Impact Program, which rewards players who have the biggest positive impact on PGA Tour business, is doubling its total prize payout from $50 million in 2022 to $100 million in 2023.
LIV Golf Invitational Series 2022: Brooks Koepka Holds Round 1 Lead in Saudi Arabia
Oct 14, 2022
PATHUM THANI, THAILAND - OCTOBER 09: Team Captain Brooks Koepka of Smash GC hits a tee shot on the ninth hole during Day Three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Bangkok at Stonehill Golf Course on October 09, 2022 in Pathum Thani, Thailand. (Photo by Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Brooks Koepka raced out to a two-shot
lead following the first round of the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah after
shooting an eight-under 62 at the Royal Greens Golf & Country
Club in Saudi Arabia.
Koepka posted an unblemished scorecard
with eight birdies and no bogeys. He's seeking his first LIV Golf
victory after winning eight times on the PGA Tour.
Let's take a look at the top of the
individual leaderboard after Friday's play:
1 (-8): Brooks Koepka
2 (-6): Charl Schwartzel
T-3 (-5): Hideto Tanihara, Peter Uihlein, Patrick Reed
T-6 (-4): Turk Pettit, James Piot, Carlos Ortiz
T-9 (-3): Marc Leishman, Jediah Morgan, Anirban Lahiri, Abraham Ancer, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson
And here are the team leaders with 36 holes left
to play in the three-round tournament:
1 (-15): Smash
T-2 (-10): Torque, Niblicks, Fireballs
5 (-9): Stinger
The team standings illustrate how well
Koepka, the captain for Smash, played in the opening round as only
four of the other 11 squads exceeded his individual score.
Koepka, a four-time major champion, was
one of the first marquee signings for LIV. The former top-ranked
player in the world has slid down to No. 33 as the Official World
Golf Ranking continues to review whether players on the new tour
should receive ranking points for the 54-hole events.
"I just hate when you sit on the
fence. Pick a side. It's either yes or no. Pick one," the two-time
PGA Player of the Year told reporters last week. "To not say
something that's really an answer, and to say, 'We'll think about it,'
I don't agree with. Just pick a side. If it's no, that's fine, we'll
figure it out from there."
Although the 32-year-old American wouldn't
get any points for winning in Jeddah, he'd receive quite the consolation prize: a $4 million winner's check.
Meanwhile, the leaderboard is shaping
up for a star-studded weekend.
One issue for LIV in its infancy has
been mediocre play from some of its biggest names. Koepka is 23rd in the
individual standings, with Garcia (11th), Bryson DeChambeau (20th),
Mickelson (32nd) among those also outside the top 10.
Having Koepka, Schwartzel, Reed,
Garcia, Westwood and Mickelson all in the initial hunt is a promising
sign in terms of building more attention for Sunday.
The second round of the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah will tee off at 12 p.m. local time Saturday, which is 5 a.m. ET
in the United States. LIV uses a shotgun start, meaning every group
starts at the same time on a different hole.
After this week's event wraps up, LIV
will have just one tournament remaining in its debut season: the Team
Championship beginning Oct. 28 in Miami.
Report: Phil Mickelson, More LIV Golfers Leave Antitrust Lawsuit Against PGA Tour
Sep 27, 2022
BOLTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 02: Team Captain Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC looks on from the eighth tee during Day One of the LIV Golf Invitational - Boston at The Oaks Golf Course at The International on September 02, 2022 in Bolton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Phil Mickelson, Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Ian Poulter requested to remove themselves from the antitrust complaint filed against the PGA Tour, according to Eric Prisbell of Sports Business Journal.
ESPN's Mark Schlabach provided a statement from LIV Golf spokesman Jonathan Grella, who said the development doesn't alter the ongoing case:
Nothing has changed. The merits of the case — the PGA Tour's anti-competitive conduct — still stand and will be fully tested in court. And we look forward to that. LIV stands with the players whom the PGA Tour has treated so poorly, but we also recognize that to be successful, we no longer need a wide array of players to be on the suit. We have our players' backs and will press our case against the PGA Tour's anti-competitive behavior.
Mickelson indicated weeks earlier he was weighing whether to continue being a part of the suit.
"I haven't done anything yet, but now that LIV is involved, it's not necessary for me to be a part of it," he said on Sept. 15, per Schlabach. "I currently still am [part of the lawsuit]. I don't know what I'm really going to do. The only reason for me to stay in it is damages, which, I don't really want or need anything."
The lawsuit came after the Wall Street Journal's Louise Radnofsky and Andrew Beaton reported in July the Department of Justice was examining whether the PGA Tour violated any antitrust laws.
Among their claims, the plaintiffs in the suit allege the tour "threatened" golfers who pursued a move to LIV and applied pressure to other outside parties "to coerce players to abandon opportunities to play in LIV Golf events." The golfers also believe the indefinite suspension they received from the PGA Tour has damaged their careers.
The PGA Tour earned a minor legal victory on Aug. 9, when a federal judge declined to grant a temporary restraining order to Gooch, Swafford and Matt Jones that would've allowed them to compete in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
District Court Judge Beth Freeman determined the contracts the three signed with LIV Golf were "based upon players calculation of what they were leaving behind." As a result, they couldn't prove they were unduly harmed.
Phil Mickelson Says LIV Golf, PGA Tour Should 'Come Together'
Sep 17, 2022
SUGAR GROVE, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 16: Team Captain Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC is interviewed during Day One of the LIV Golf Invitational - Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on September 16, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Phil Mickelson said it's time for LIV
Golf and the PGA Tour to "come together" for the betterment of
the sport after a monthslong rivalry.
Mickelson, one of the first
high-profile golfers to make the jump to LIV, said the breakaway tour
is "here to stay," so it's time to settle the differences.
"The best solution is for us to
come together," Mickelson told reporters Friday. "I think that
the world of professional golf has a need for the old historical
'history of the game' product that the PGA Tour provides. I think
that LIV provides a really cool, updated feel that is attracting a
lot of younger crowds."
His comments come after he confirmed
Thursday he'll consider removing himself from an antitrust lawsuit
filed by several LIV players against the PGA Tour.
"Both are good for the game of
golf and the inclusion of LIV Golf in the ecosystem of the golf world
is necessary," Mickelson said. "As soon as that happens, we all
start working together. It's going to be a really positive thing for
everyone."
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman told Tom
Minear of The Australian on Tuesday he's tried to make contact with
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan with no success, which left them
little choice but to move forward without an agreement between the
sides.
"That's why we are where we are
today," Norman said. "We tried awfully hard—I know I did
personally for the past year. ... When we knew we were never going to
hear from them, we just decided to go."
LIV attracted numerous notable players,
including Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks
Koepka, Cameron Smith and Sergio Garcia, with a variety of perks and
life-changing money. The tour is financially backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
Its tournaments are 54 holes (one
round shorter than the PGA Tour) with no cut, and the purse is
typically around $25 million for a standard event. A season-ending
competition next month in Miami will have a $50 million payout.
All of that is on top of lucrative
guaranteed contracts. Mickelson signed a deal worth around $200
million in June, per Brentley Romine of Golf Channel.
The PGA Tour responded by barring
players who appear in a LIV tournament from its own events, and
several longtime Tour players, including Tiger
Woods and Rory McIlroy, have been forceful in their public comments against the rival
league.
"I think that what they've done is
they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this
position," Woods told reporters at the Open Championship in July.
McIlroy said in June younger players
going to LIV were "taking the easy way out," and he's maintained a stance LIV players should be banned from the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Monahan also reiterated last month
there are no plans to reinstate LIV golfers.
So, while Mickelson and LIV appear open
to a truce, it doesn't seem like the PGA Tour and its members feel
the same way at this stage.
Phil Mickelson Considering Exiting LIV Golf's Antitrust Lawsuit Against PGA Tour
Sep 15, 2022
SUGAR GROVE, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 15: Team Captain Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC plays a shot on the driving range during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational - Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on September 15, 2022 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
Phil Mickelson may no longer be a part of LIV Golf's lawsuit against the PGA Tour.
Mickelson said Thursday he is considering removing his name from the Saudi-backed league's federal antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, according to ESPN's Mark Schlabach:
"I haven't done anything yet, but now that LIV is involved, it's not necessary for me to be a part of it. I currently still am [part of the lawsuit]. I don't know what I'm really going to do. The only reason for me to stay in it is damages, which, I don't really want or need anything."
On June 9, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan suspended 17 players, including Mickelson, who is a six-time major champion, from competing in PGA Tour events after they played in LIV Golf's inaugural event at the Centurion Club in London.
Mickelson and 10 other LIV Golf players filed suit against the PGA Tour last month after they were suspended for joining the breakaway circuit. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for the purpose of challenging the bans and other restrictions placed on players.
In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the PGA Tour engaged in "anticompetitive behavior" to control its hold on professional golf.
Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones were also seeking a temporary restraining order as part of the lawsuit so they could compete in the FedEx Cup playoffs. However, a federal judge denied the request.
LIV Golf joined the lawsuit against the PGA Tour as a plaintiff on Aug. 27.
Mickelson would be the fifth player to remove his name from the lawsuit, joining Carlos Ortiz, Abraham Ancer, Pat Perez and Jason Kokrak, who did so last month.
Mickelson has been one of the faces of LIV Golf and was one of the first players to join the Saudi-backed league, which reportedly paid him $200 million to ditch the PGA Tour, per Brentley Romine of Golf Channel.
He has been heavily criticized for joining LIV Golf and, before joining, the 52-year-old made controversial comments about the Saudi Arabians who are funding the breakaway circuit via their private investment fund, while speaking with author Alan Shipnuck, per Schlabach:
"They're scary motherf--kers to get involved with. ... They killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."
Phil Mickelson Says LIV, PGA Golfers Are All 'Appreciative' of Results from Rivalry
Sep 2, 2022
BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY - JULY 29: Team Captain Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC reacts on the 12th hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational - Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 29, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/LIV via Getty Images)
Phil Mickelson said he's heard from
both PGA Tour and LIV Golf players who are happy about the direction
of the sport.
Mickelson, one of the first marquee LIV
signings, told Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated on Thursday he's
pleased the increased competition is helping everybody.
"Yes, numerous [players have reached
out]. And I'm very appreciative," the six-time major champion said. "They are from both sides. I think players on both sides of LIV and
the PGA Tour are appreciative of what is happening. Every player is
benefiting."
LIV, which is financially backed by
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, was able to lure several
high-profile players away from the PGA Tour with a variety of perks,
including lucrative guaranteed contracts, sizable purses and 54-hole,
no-cut tournaments.
Mickelson committed to the new tour
after receiving a contract worth around $200 million, per Brentley
Romine of Golf Channel.
Greg Norman, a two-time major winner
who's now the CEO of LIV Golf, told Fox News' Tucker Carlson in
August they offered Tiger Woods "somewhere in that neighborhood" of $700 million to $800 million.
Woods turned down the offer and has
instead joined Rory McIlroy as the most outspoken critics of players
moving to the rival tour.
"I disagree with it," Woods told
reporters before The Open Championship in July. "I think that what
they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to
get to this position."
He added: "What is the incentive to
practice and earn it in the dirt?"
The PGA Tour responded to the exodus by
announcing "enhancements" to the tour beginning next season,
including larger tournament purses and a guaranteed $500,000 salary
for all exempt members.
Nevertheless, another group of players
are making the move to LIV following the conclusion of the PGA Tour
playoffs after last weekend's Tour Championship.
Mickelson told Harig he doesn't believe
the PGA Tour would have made the changes without the arrival of LIV.
"I don't think anything like that
would have happened without the leverage that LIV Golf has provided," he said. "There was no leverage. There were no other options."
Now Lefty, who noted previous efforts to spark change on the PGA Tour fell short, is hopeful golfers of each
side understand the importance of competition.
"Unless there was leverage, nothing
was going to change," Mickelson said. "And all players should be
appreciative of what LIV is doing. The players on LIV for the
opportunity they are getting. And the PGA Tour for the leverage that
was provided to get these changes done."
LIV Golf continues its debut
season this weekend in Boston. The PGA Tour tees off its 2022-23 campaign Sept. 15 with the Fortinet Championship in
California.
Ex-PGA Tour Commish Deane Beman Doesn't Think LIV Funders 'Give a Damn About' Golf
Aug 9, 2022
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MAY 10: Former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman looks on during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 10, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Deane Beman, who spent 20 years as the
PGA Tour commissioner beginning in 1974, questioned whether the
founders of LIV Golf actually care about the sport.
LIV is financially backed by Saudi
Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has allowed the new series to
hand out lucrative guaranteed contracts to get players to make the
jump from the PGA Tour.
The 84-year-old told Adam Schupak of Golfweek on
Monday he doesn't believe it's "good for the game of golf:"
Overall, I don't think the people
putting up the money give a damn about the game of golf. They are
trying to use what we built over decades, what I think is the most
courageous and responsible sport that there is and that has integrity
and respect for the rules and respect for the game and respect for
competition, I don't think the people putting up the money give a
damn about any of that. They are putting up money for their own
personal benefit.
As for the players who've accepted the
offers, Beman named Sergio Garcia as an example of an older golfer
who's "grabbing the money and going" because they're on the back
nine of their career, and he's somewhat understanding of that approach.
He's less sure in regards to those still
in a position to consistently compete for titles:
There are certain players that have
gone over there that I think have made a mistake for their career but
maybe they don't care as much as I thought they did about what it
stands for and what it means to be a champion golfer. A lot of them
are just thinking about the money. If you're just worried about
money, there are a helluva lot of easier ways to get a lot of money
than to play golf, I can tell you that. They should've thought about
that a long time ago.
As a whole, Beman described LIV Golf as
a "money grab" and said the only positive of the rival tour is "demasking the integrity of some individuals."
"Their real stripes are showing," he said. "Some of the people who have benefited enormously from
what the Tour has put together are fully disclosing their integrity."
A series of lawsuits have been filed against the PGA Tour's decision to ban players who compete in LIV from
their events.
Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau
headlined a group of 11 LIV players who filed an antitrust lawsuit last week.
In addition, three golfers—Talor
Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford—are seeking a temporary
restraining order that would make them eligible for the PGA Tour's FedEx
Cup playoffs, which are in their second round this weekend at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee.
Beman described those efforts as "trying to have their cake and eat it too."
