Phil Mickelson’s comments speak volumes as Rory McIlroy raises issue after LIV Golf hope
Rory McIlroy has eased his criticism on those who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf as of late, and his recent comments are incredibly telling when Phil Mickelson’s stance is considered.
Phil Mickelson’s admission that LIV Golf has made him fresher for major tournaments may put Rory McIlroy on notice after his ‘hard slog’ comment.
A tectonic shift battered professional golf in 2022, when the Saudi Arabian PIF-backed LIV Golf emerged to compete against the old guard PGA Tour, stealing away some of the sport’s top names, notably Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm, as well as a host of other major champions.
McIlroy was one of golf’s finest who stood firm and lashed out at those abandoning the tour, but as years have gone by, a resolution and merger between the two parties teeters on being sorted. The North Irishman’s stance has, therefore, weakened, and he has even become critical of his own circuit.
Describing the PGA Tour’s calendar as a ‘hard slog’ as he debates withdrawing from the RBC Heritage, one of the breakaway golfers, six-time major winner Mickelson, shed light on his decision to jump ship – giving McIlroy something to think about.
Having been fined £2.3million in 2023 for missing the Heritage, McIlroy took aim at the PGA this month when describing their packed and tiresome schedule.
“There’s a few tournaments that I played this year that I don’t usually play and that I might not play next year,” McIlroy told the Daily Telegraph. “Well, at this point in my career, I’m 35 and have been out here for 17, 18 years. I’m just going to go to the places that I enjoy and where I play well. Look I’ve done the hard slog, I’ve done that sort of 25 to 30 events a year. I’m not getting any younger.”
Adversary Mickleson used this exact fact to rally for LIV, and explain his choice to switch sides, taking to social media to describe how the rival outfit has left him feeling fresher for major titles.
“Whether you like it or loathe this is the only/LIV Tour to be your best in the majors. Opportune number of events to maintain a high level and be prepared for the upcoming tournaments and at the same time not to be heavily burdened with too many tour commitments and more so obligations in majors. 14 LIV events, 34 weeks available before the four majors. Fact,” Mickelson underlined X on the sheet in the year 2023.
Maybe what McIlroy wants and what LIV offers could add up to give the perfect medium if the proposed merger, which started in 2023, would be actualized. McIlroy also commented on the expected merger this month.
Recently elected US president Donald Trump appeared on Let’s Go podcast, and he defended that it would take him the better part of 15 minutes to solve this ‘golf civil war’. McIlroy hopefully responded.
McIlroy said in an interview to the Golf Channel after Trump’s win: “Considering everything that has transpired so far, I feel that it opens it up a little bit.” “He might be able to. He’s got Elon Musk, who I believe in my opinion is the smartest man alive, by his side.
It is probably possible to do something if Musk would get involved as well. I guess for people who are outside of the cast wondering or observing then perhaps it really isn’t what it seems. Saudi is one of Trump greatest allies. He seems to be on very good terms with golf. He’s a lover of golf. So, maybe. Who knows?”
