LIV Golf almost struggled to take off after an alleged comment made by Phil Mickelson made some of golf’s top stars wary of the Saudi-backed tour.
Phil Mickelson almost caused the downfall of LIV Golf before its launch when the six-time major winner reportedly referred to Saudi leaders as “intimidating individuals.”
The 53-year-old individual is among numerous prominent golf players who switched their allegiance from the PGA Tour to the Saudi rebels. However, he almost deterred some individuals with his statement regarding the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 and the treatment of the LGBT community by the kingdom.
Mickelson’s reported evaluation of the Saudi chiefs as “Scary motherf*****s” caused quite a stir. Nevertheless, he has now refuted ever conducting the interview with his biographer Alan Shipnuck, which caused widespread concern.
I want to emphasize that I have never had an interview with Alan Shipnuck,” the American stated. “My interactions with everyone at LIV Golf have been extremely positive, and I hold everyone I’ve worked with in high regard.”
Despite being an early adopter of LIV Golf and a prominent figure in the sport, Mickelson has yet to secure a victory on the new Tour. His HyFlyers fell short of the team title in Adelaide, coming in third place and trailing the top two teams by five shots.
Brendan Steele, Mickelson’s teammate, secured his first LIV win in Adelaide, providing a significant boost to the HyFlyers. Throughout the tournament, Steele held a one-shot lead, which he maintained until the final 18 holes on Sunday. In recognition of his achievement, Steele expressed his gratitude towards team captain Mickelson.
Steele acknowledged, “I heavily rely on Phil for guidance in various aspects. Whether it’s navigating shots around the green or approaching different situations, his expertise is invaluable. As one of the greatest players in history, his advice holds immense value to me. I am eager to absorb his wisdom and he has greatly assisted me in areas such as wedge play, short game, and mental fortitude. His belief in me has instilled confidence, and I owe a great deal of my success to him.”
The potential merger involving the PGA, LIV Golf, and DP World Tour is still being considered, marking the possible end to years of conflict since the breakaway tour caused a stir in the sport. Mickelson and PGA supporter Rory McIlroy may not see eye to eye on LIV Golf, but they appear to agree on its disruptive nature.
“I understand this isn’t the ultimate solution, but when you look at the TV ratings for the PGA Tour this year, they’ve dropped by 20 percent overall,” he explained. “That’s a significant decrease. I’d say the viewership numbers for LIV aren’t impressive either. I believe that with all the controversies and conflicts that have occurred in recent years, people are becoming tired of it and losing interest in men’s professional golf, which isn’t beneficial for anyone.”
It will be fascinating to observe the performance of the four major championships, or even just the three excluding Augusta, as it seems to have its own unique status. The comparison of major championship numbers with other significant events will be intriguing, especially if the numbers are superior and feature the world’s top players. This could potentially lead to a discussion on the need to reunite these events.
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