PGA Tour great Phil Mickelson believes the legendary golf circuit and its new competitor LIV Golf need to work together for the betterment of the sport because LIV is going nowhere.
Over the last six months, the PGA and LIV have been locked in a war for supremacy in the world of professional golf. The new tour backed by the finance department of the Saudi Arabian government has been able to acquire many top 100 players by offering up massive signing bonuses and tournament purses. In an attempt to stop athletes from double dipping in both leagues, the Professional Golfers’ Association has suspended tour members that are also competing for LIV.
Related: LIV Golf FAQ – The new circuit challenging the PGA Tour
Despite the bans and many current PGA players trying to rouse solidarity among the ranks, it has not stopped the mass exodus of stars taking their talents exclusively to LIV. Recently, the 2022 Open champion and one of the highest ranked players in the world, Cameron Smith, left the Professional Golfers’ Association for their top competitor.
Phil Mickelson says PGA having all the best players ‘will never be the case again’
The man who was the first true superstar player to make the switch is three-time Masters champion, Phil Mickelson. He began the parade of high-level players from the Tour to LIV, and he believes the top golf league in the sport needs to stop their attempts to try and snuff out the competition because LIV Golf is “here to stay.” In his mind, it would be in the best interest of golf as a whole for the Tour and LIV to work together.
“The PGA Tour, for the last 20 or 30 years has had all the best players in the world. That will never be the case again. LIV Golf is here to stay. The best solution is for us to come together. I think that the world of professional golf has a need for the old historical ‘history of the game’ product that the PGA Tour provides. I think that LIV provides a really cool, updated feel that is attracting a lot of younger crowds.
“Both are good for the game of golf and the inclusion of LIV in the ecosystem of the golf world is necessary. As soon as that happens, we all start working together, it’s going to be a really positive thing for everyone.”
Mickelson following Liv event on friday [h/t ESPN]
LIV is in the midst of its sixth event this season, which is being held at the Rich Harvest Farms in Chicago, Illinois.