Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm were two of five high-profile LIV Golf stars to miss the cut on Friday at the PGA Championship, while Dustin Johnson managed to squeeze through.
Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm, two prominent LIV Golf stars, failed to make the cut during Round 2 of the PGA Championship following a challenging conclusion on Friday at Valhalla.
Phil Mickelson, a six-time major championships winner at the age of 53, began his PGA Championship with a 74, followed by a one-over 72. This resulted in him finishing four-over par, marking the conclusion of his brief appearance in the tournament.
Mickelson has recognized that he is approaching the final stages of his career, as evidenced by his lackluster performance in the Saudi tour, LIV Golf, where he currently ranks 39th in the individual standings. On the other hand, Spanish golfer Rahm has not secured a victory since the Masters last year and has struggled to find his form since joining Mickelson and other renowned players in LIV Golf.
Nevertheless, the PGA Championship is still showcasing a strong presence from LIV Golf, as 11 talented golfers have successfully made the cut. Among them are renowned players like Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Dean Burmester, Talor Gooch, Tyrrell Hatton, Lucas Herbert, Martin Kaymer, Brooks Koepka, Joaquin Niemann, Patrick Reed, and Cameron Smith. These exceptional athletes will be competing throughout the weekend, providing thrilling golf action. However, Mirror Sport also highlights five LIV Golf stars who unfortunately missed the cut at Valhalla on Friday.
Phil Mickelson
Mickelson concluded his PGA Championship prematurely, finishing with a score of four-over par. “At the age of 53, I must admit that my career is approaching its conclusion,” Mickelson candidly expressed. Additionally, he made a significant statement regarding his future endeavors, stating, “Presently, my desire is to assist others in discovering the same level of satisfaction and contentment that the game of golf has bestowed upon me,” Mickelson shared with Bloomberg in a recent interview.
Jon Rahm
Rahm, one of the prominent golfers who recently switched from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf, had a disappointing Friday. He found himself at T80 after shooting scores of 70-72, resulting in an overall even par. Rahm expressed his surprise at his performance in the two rounds. He had felt confident about his game after playing well in Australia and Singapore, as well as during the week leading up to this tournament. Particularly, his drives off the tee were exceptional. However, his inability to find the fairway off the tee proved to be his downfall. Scoring on this challenging golf course became difficult from the rough, and unfortunately, that’s what happened to him.
He mentioned, “I was really hoping to get one more and prove myself innocent. However, when you’re not performing well, you kind of need that extra push in some way. It was on my mind and my swing wasn’t quite there, but I felt confident with the putter. I was desperately trying to create an opportunity for myself, but unfortunately, I couldn’t achieve anything in the last three holes. It was a 25-foot putt and a 60-foot putt, and I must say, I’ve been less nervous over some long putts throughout my career, that’s for sure.”
Adrian Meronk
Adrian Meronk, the recipient of the 2023 DP World Player of the Year award, concluded the tournament in 91st position, recording scores of 74–69 and a Friday score of 69 (-2). Given his impressive performance in LIV Golf, it is safe to say that Meronk will be deeply disappointed. He managed to secure three top-10 finishes in his initial seven starts.
Andy Ogletree
The 26-year-old golfer ended his Friday round with a +5 score, following a bogey on the par-4, 6th hole in the back nine. Despite scoring three birdies on his final three holes, it will not be sufficient for him to qualify for the next round.
David Puig
David Puig, a 22-year-old golfer from Spain, ended up tied for 108th place with a score of 3-over par following rounds of 72 and 73. Despite his impressive record of seven top-10 finishes, two wins, and three top 15s in ten non-LIV Golf events, Puig’s performance in his PGA Championship debut fell short of expectations.
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