Phil Mickelson says moving to LIV puts him on the ‘winning side’ of the fight for the future of golf | CBC sport

For the first time since his snide remarks about LIV Golf’s funding source back in Saudi Arabia, Phil Mickelson said Thursday he was glad he was on the “winning side” and seeing a downward trend in the PGA Tour.

Mickelson had said a month ago that while the PGA Tour has had the best players in the world for the last 20 to 30 years, that would never happen again.

He was even more prominent at a press conference for the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah, which begins Friday on the Royal Greens at King Abdullah Economic City.

“I think in the future you have to choose a side. You have to decide which side you think will be successful. And I firmly believe that I’m on the winning side when it comes to how things are shaping up and shaping up for professional golf in the years to come,” said Mickelson.

Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau were among several big champions to sign Saudi-funded LIV Golf deals reportedly in the $125 million range.

LIV Golf currently has 12 of the top 50 players in the world rankings – British Open champion Cameron Smith at No. 2 is the highest while the majority of them are outside the top 25 because LIV Golf has not received any world ranking points since it began in June.

The PGA Tour still has a majority of the current stars — 19 of the top 20 — and is kicking off a new schedule in 2023 that will bring together the best players about 15 times a year to compete for $20 million in prize money.

chief recruiter

These are some of the changes that Mickelson wanted all along. The PGA Tour has suspended him and other members who have signed with LIV Golf, the lead plaintiff in an antitrust case scheduled for a January 2024 trial.

LIV Golf has 48-player uncut fields over 54 holes played for $25 million each week. Dustin Johnson has earned over $30 million, including a $18 million bonus for winning each points race.

Mickelson was considered the chief recruiter for Greg Norman, head of LIV Golf, and it was his comments in February that slowed LIV Golf’s inaugural year.

In an interview with Alan Shipnuck, who published an unauthorized biography of Mickelson in May, the six-time major champion called the Saudis a “creepy mother”.[expletives] to join.”

“We know they killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a terrible human rights record. They execute people there because they are gay. Knowing all this, why should I even consider it? Because this is a unique opportunity to reshape the operation of the PGA Tour,” Mickelson said.

The interview was published two weeks after Mickelson played for the Royal Greens in Saudi International.

Mickelson issued a statement after the interview, saying his comments were confidential and being shared without context.

On Thursday, he said: “I never did an interview with Alan Shipnuck. And I feel that my experience with everyone associated with LIV Golf has been nothing short of incredibly positive and I have the utmost respect for everyone I have dealt with.”

widening of the gap

This summer has highlighted the great divide in golf, with the PGA Tour and European Tour wanting no part of anyone who has committed to play golf at LIV.

The US Open and British Open had allowed LIV Golf players to compete if they were eligible, although both organizations opposed the competing league. The Royal & Ancient asked Norman not to attend the 150th anniversary celebration at St Andrews in July.

Mickelson said golf is “very happy” that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is investing in the sport. Along with massive amounts of money paid to LIV golfers and purses, the company has invested $300 million in the Asian Tour.

Mickelson, 52, signed with LIV Golf in June, a year after becoming the oldest major winner of the 2021 PGA Championship with his sixth major title.

In six appearances with LIV Golf, he’s registered just one top 10 – a tie for eighth place outside of Chicago, seven shots behind Smith.

He claims LIV Golf reinvigorated him and excited him to compete.

“I love the experience. I love the way they treat us. I love the way they involve us and listen to us in decisions,” he said. “I mean, it’s so comprehensive. …LIV Golf is a leader. Is that it? [wearing] Shorts, whether it’s other aspects of professional golf that will change and evolve, those positions will be led by LIV.”