Phil Mickelson, a significant player in the LIV Golf world and a staunch advocate of the PIF-backed tour, has recently made headlines with his contentious remarks about fellow golfers which may have implications on his future with the PGA Tour. His endorsement of LIV Golf, and comparison of it favorably over PGA, has drawn significant attention from the golfing community.
Mickelson’s outspoken comments have included predictions that Scottie Scheffler won’t secure a win on the PGA Tour in 2025, and assertions that Joaquin Niemann should be the world number one. His statements have stirred up quite the commotion in the golfing world.
Esteemed golf analyst, Rex Hoggard, has shared insights suggesting that Mickelson’s words could be jeopardizing his chances of a welcome return to the PGA Tour. Speaking on the episode of Rex and Lav, Hoggard referred to Mickelson as the least likely of LIV players to be welcomed back to the PGA Tour.
To provide some context, Hoggard shared a story about Laurie Canter, a former LIV player who made an appearance on the PGA Tour at the Players Championship. Having never been a PGA Tour member, Canter’s suspension amounted to a year from his last LIV event until he could participate in a PGA Tour event. This instance demonstrated that the PGA Tour has a pathway for non-member players.
However, for those who were members before switching to LIV, their return would be treated on a case-by-case basis. Mickelson, considering his recent comments and other factors, might find himself at the bottom of that list. Even in the event of an agreement or unification, Hoggard doubts that Mickelson would find a warm welcome back to the PGA Tour.
In the same program, golf analyst Todd Lewis offered a more critical assessment of Mickelson’s comments. In a rebuttal to Mickelson’s remarks about Scottie Scheffler, Lewis pointed out that Scheffler led the PGA Tour in more than two dozen statistical categories last year, including scoring average and money won, which was close to $65 million. He questioned Mickelson’s basis for his comments, while admitting that they did trigger engaging discussions.
Mickelson, who has been performing well on the LIV Tour, is set to encounter his former PGA Tour peers at The Masters next month. The golf world will be keenly watching this rendezvous, and any further comments from Mickelson are sure to stir up more discussions.
