Mickelson ‘winning’ as LIV is on the rise

Back in Saudi Arabia for the first time since his disparaging remarks about the source of LIV Golf ’s funding, Phil Mickelson said yesterday he was glad to be on the “winning side” and that he sees the PGA Tour trending downwards.

Mickelson had said a month ago that while the PGA Tour had all the best players in the world for the last 20 to 30 years, that would never be the case again.

He came out even stronger in a news conference for the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah, which started overnight at Royal Greens in King Abdullah Economic City.

“I think going forward, you have to pick a side. You have to pick what side do you think is going to be successful. And I firmly believe that I’m on the winning side of how things are going to evolve and shape in the coming years for professional golf,” said Mickelson.

“We play against a lot of the best players in the world on LIV and there are a lot of the best players in the world on the PGA Tour. And . . . until both sides sit down and have a conversation and work something out, both sides are going to continue to change and evolve. And I see LIV Golf trending upwards, I see the PGA Tour trending downwards and I love the side that I’m on.”

Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau were among several major champions Saudi-funded LIV Golf signed to contracts reported to be in the US$125 million range.

LIV Golf has 12 of the top 50 players in the world rankings.

LIV Golf has 48-man fields with no cut over 54 holes playing for US$25m each week. Dustin Johnson already has made over US$30m, including an US$18m bonus for clinching the individual points race.

Mickelson said golf is “very lucky” to have Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund invest in the sport. Along with enormous money paid to LIV Golf players and purses, it has invested US$300m in the Asian Tour.

Mickelson, 52, contends LIV Golf has reinvigorated him and made him excited to compete.

“I love the experience. I love the way they involve us and listen to us in decisions,” he said. “I mean, it’s so inclusive . . . . LIV Golf is leading. Whether it’s [wearing] shorts, whether it’s other aspects of professional golf that are going to change and evolve, those positions will be led by LIV.”