Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has suggested he doesn't believe the rival LIV Golf League needs to do a peace deal with the PGA Tour anymore.
Phil Mickelson says he doesn’t believe LIV Golf’s financiers need to strike a deal with the PGA anymore as the rivalry is ‘elevating’ both tours.
Mickelson made the comments in a recent interview with Bloomberg.
The six-time major champion has been front and centre throughout the saga that began in 2022 and dominated global headlines.
Lefty struck a more reflective tone in his latest interview, suggesting that he desperately wants to let his angry feelings subside.
“I don’t know if it’s necessary,” Mickelson said when asked about the prospect of an agreement being made.
There were reports before the US Open that lightning had struck but PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan poured cold water on those claims.
Monahan insisted he wouldn’t negotiate through the media before the John Deere Classic.
“I know that a few years ago it was not an option to have elevated events,” Mickelson added.
“It was not an option for players to have equity.
“And it wasn’t an option for players to transcend social media markets and create YouTube channels and have their own social media posts the way Bryson has done.
“And the way Bryson has brought golf and this cool, hip vibe to so many people on YouTube. That wasn’t an option. So until LIV happened, none of that was going to happen. Now because of LIV those are all happening.”
“The competition that both tours are providing is elevating both tours.
“So is it necessary that there’s a merger? Probably not. But it would be a good thing if there wasn’t any hostility.”
Mickelson become persona non grata with the PGA Tour in June 2022 when he officially signed up for the breakaway tour.
He had spent the first part of that calendar year in exile after his infamous ‘scary motherf——‘ comments were published.
Mickelson also said, on the record, that the PGA Tour’s obnoxious greed had him looking elsewhere.
“I need to let that stuff go,” he said. “I need to let go of all the experiences I have had in the past that were less than positive.
“I need to let go of my hostilities, and we all do for the betterment of the game.”
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Of a future agreement, he added: “All of the factors that are taking place quietly behind closed doors need to be ironed out, and other people are working on that, that’s something that’s getting done.
“But as that disruption phase takes place, the stranglehold on sponsors, the stranglehold on manufacturers, the stranglehold on players, the control that was had is being let go.
“And so now that there is talk of this potential merger and so forth sponsors are more interested, it’s not as controversial.
“Players are starting to come over more, they’re starting to see the benefits.”
Mickelson’s latest comments are at odds with LIV commissioner Greg Norman.
Norman has gone on the offensive once again, taking aim at those who criticised the golfers who first made the leap into the unknown.
“It was disgusting,” he said.
