Phil Mickelson reignites PGA warfare with telling warning of one other LIV golf exodus
Phil Mickelson has executed little to maintain the peace in golf’s delicate energy battle by suggesting that there’ll “undoubtedly” be one other swathe of PGA Tour stars who be part of LIV golf within the close to future. The six-time main champion made the declare regardless of a ‘framework settlement’ being put in place between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-funded breakaway league that’s presupposed to see each events working alongside one another in a harmonious style.
And in an extra blow to the game’s establishment, fellow LIV insurgent Ian Poulter believes that there can be an identical exodus to the profitable LIV set-up from DP World Tour gamers as effectively.
Mickelson’s claims carry extra credence than many observers could realise because of an settlement between the warring excursions being quietly dropped.
The so-called ‘framework settlement’ included a clause that was agreed between LIV buyers the Private Investment Fund (PIF) and each the PGA and DP World Tours. The settlement mentioned that whereas negotiations continued over how the excursions would all work collectively, LIV wouldn’t attempt to entice extra gamers from the 2 established excursions to return throughout to their very own tour.
But this clause has since been dropped by all events when the US Department of Justice raised issues that the settlement raised issues on anti-competition grounds.
As a consequence, LIV is free to behave because it pleases, luring extra high names to the breakaway league with the promise of giant prize cash and assured earnings. Former PGA Stars like Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson – all former main winners – have made the change already, in addition to family names like Bryson DeChambeau and Mickelson himself.
The LIV league is reaching it is conclusion for the 2023 season, with $50m up for grabs within the group finale at Trump Doral this Sunday. And as soon as the on-course enterprise is taken care of, ‘Lefty’ believes that may sign the opening of the door for brand spanking new signings.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Mickelson mentioned: “LIV needs to keep evolving. But we have only been around a year and a half and look at the quality of players that we have already. And that’s going to continue to improve next year and it’s going to continue to improve the following year.”
When asked if that meant more players were about to defect from the PGA Tour, he added: “Do I think that? “No. I KNOW that’s going to happen. When players look at LIV, they are wanting to be a part of it. Everybody here is happy and enjoying what we are doing and enjoying the team aspect of it and the camaraderie and all the benefits that come with playing this tour.
“The reality is, I’ve been fielding calls, as we all have, from players who are free agents to PGA Tour players who want to come over. So the question is how many spots are available? There’s a lot more players that want to come than there are spots.”
Britain has its personal social gathering of LIV rebels on the tour, led by former Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Lee Westood. Poulter also seems convinced that European tour competitors will also follow his lead and try and break into the LIV set-up.
Poulter said: “I am not going to give any names, but we’ve been contacted about players wanting to join. And that’s no surprise. Think about it, they’ll probably get fined, but if a player takes that chance, pays say $50,000 or whatever, then he makes it into the top three then he will earn minimum $1.75 million in 14 events in 2024. That’s minimum. Even if they shoot level 80s every week.”