Phil Mickelson has repeatedly said that he’s happy since making the jump to LIV Golf. Now he says he’s happy the chaos has led to top players from the PGA Tour and those who have bolted for the rival circuit being heard.
“I’m extremely happy that the top players are being listened to and that their input is being valued,” the six-time major champion told Sports Illustrated on Thursday, ahead of this week’s LIV tournament outside Boston that began on Friday.
Mickelson also said in the interview that he has heard from “numerous” players from both LIV and the PGA Tour and that those from both sides are “appreciative” for the changes that are taking place amid the disruption.
Last week, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced that the Tour’s top players had committed to 20 tournaments — including an elevated 13 events that have average purses of $20 million — beginning next year and that there would be some guaranteed money as well.
“I don’t think anything like that would have happened without the leverage that LIV Golf has provided,” Mickelson said. “There was no leverage. There were no other options.’’
Phil Mickelson follows through on a tee shot on the second hole during the first round of the LIV Golf tournament Friday outside Boston. APThere’s also apparently no going back to the PGA Tour for Mickelson, who remains banned from the Tour along with the other players who have bolted for LIV — at least for now.
Mickelson is among a handful of players from LIV who have filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Tour. Though a few players have dropped out of the lawsuit, LIV added itself to it last week.
“My commitment now is with LIV,” the 52-year-old with 45 PGA Tour wins told SI. “We’ve made some major disruption to the sport of golf, and have created some really unique opportunities for players and fans. And we’re just getting started.”
He also noted “some of the similarities” between LIV, which features no-cut tournaments over 54 holes with guaranteed money, and the changes that will go into affect on the PGA Tour beginning in 2023.
Mickelson added that he believes he will be able to play in next year’s Masters, which has yet to take a stance on players who have gone to LIV.
He also said that he doesn’t feel any “vindication” and whatever difficulties he has encountered have been worth it.
Notable among them is that players who do tee it up on LIV will continue to be suspended from the Tour. LIV has also been widely accused of being used to sports wash Saudi Arabia’s numerous human rights atrocities, which most recently included sentencing two women to 34- and 45-year prison sentences, respectively, over Twitter postings.
Mickelson himself has also previously admitted that LIV is being used for sports washing.
“I think with any significant change, you are going to have disruption,” he told SI. “LIV is disruptive. There’s no question. I think that in the end, everything is going to work out the way it should. I think whatever difficulties we may face in the process may be worth it.
“I think we’re in a bit of a grace period before it all works itself out. I believe it will in time. I believe these organizations will come together in time and find a solution. The upside is tremendously high, especially on a global scale.”
