Phil Mickelson explains why LIV gives golfers the best chance to win majors
Phil Mickelson continues to wave the banner of LIV golf. And now that someone from the rogue tour won a Grand Slam, Mickelson contends that those who play for the Saudi Arabia-backed venture are in better position to win a major.
Mickelson loves to tweet about the PGA versus LIV. And earlier this week, he posted:
“Love LIV or hate it, it’s the best way/Tour to be your best in the majors. Enough events to keep you sharp, fresh and ready, yet not be worn down from too many tournaments or obligations. 14 LIV events, 34 weeks left open to prepare for the 4 majors. Fact.”
What we do know as fact is that several LIV golfers, including Phil Mickelson, have done well at the first two majors — The Masters and the PGA. Brooks Koepka won the PGA, the fifth of his career but first as an LIV competitior. Koepka also owned the lead coming into the final day of The Masters only to lose to Jon Rahm.
In fact, 11 of the 16 LIV golfers who participated in the PGA made the cut. Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith also joined Koepka in the top 10.
Although Rahm won the green jacket, LIV golfers represented their tour well in Augusta. Phil Mickelson, who already has three green jackets in his closet, shot a final-day 65 to tie Koepka, the leader after 54 holes. Then former Masters champion Patrick Reed, another player for the LIV, finished fifth. So many wondered if the PGA and LIV stars could get along at the majors. There were no reports of bad blood.
Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson also hit a major milestone at the PGA. He finished at even par, 10 shots behind Koepka, and in a tie for 58th. That wasn’t the career achievement. However, by getting to Saturday’s round, he made his 100th cut at a major tournament. He now ranks third on the career list in major cuts made behind Jack Nicklaus (131) and Gary Player (102).
So Mickelson backed off his public criticism of the PGA to reflect on the longevity moment. When he saw a tweet commemorating the cut number, Mickelson replied: “Well done PGA. It’s never easy to find the line between identifying the best or embarrassing them. Oak Hill and the PGA nailed it!”
And then he told a reporter: “It shows that I’ve had a lot of great experiences in the game of golf and that I’ve had a lot of great years and opportunities and I guess life experiences. Playing in these tournaments is something I’m very appreciative of.
“I mean, it just shows how old I am, I guess, and how many years I’ve been playing. But it’s been really fun to participate in so many great events and play well in them.”