Phil Mickelson, a fan favorite on the PGA Tour at the time of last year, was basking in the glow of his historic PGA Championship win in 2021.
He then called out the PGA Tour’s “obnoxious greed” before calling the people behind LIV Golf “scary(expletive).” Before he quit the tour to join the Saudi Arabia-backed league, Greg Norman.
In a single year, there is a lot to be done.
Mickelson, 52 years old, was interviewed by Sports Illustrated for a Q&A. He discussed everything, from the changes he made this offseason to his belief he could “duplicate Kiawah” in order to win a few more majors.
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“I’m just trying to get rid of last year and disconnect from it.” Mickelson said that a lot of things happened and that he is focusing on today and beginning the year. He will be wearing the PIF Saudi International in the Kingdom later this week. “I’m in all majors for the next three year and I believe I have a chance of winning one or two more and creating these accomplishments that haven’t been done at this level.”
Mickelson said that majors are still in the future, but he is at peace with not playing in any PGA Tour events or the Ryder Cup.
“I have loved playing in the Ryder Cup 12 times as a player and once as vice captain. Mickelson said that he has had many great experiences. “If I’m not part of it, that’s okay with me too. And I am proud of the part I played in that. I was also instrumental in creating change and integrating player input. It is important to have more consistency from one year to the next. It’s great to see us play our best golf at the Ryder Cup, even though I won’t be back.
Jon Rahm joked earlier this year that there might be tension at the Masters Champions Dinner due to the presence of LIV and PGA Tour members. Mickelson doesn’t see any unease, at least not from him. He said that players thanked him for helping LIV to get off the ground. This led to improvements on the PGA Tour.
“I’ve had many guys thank me profusely. I have the same close relationships here with the players that I had with my past teammates. These relationships are not close, but were more like friends. Public perceptions and other factors will alter their views. Mickelson said that the friends are still close.” “And I have been grateful for the many players who thanked and thanked me for making some of these changes (on the PGA Tour). It’s a good number of guys, but I don’t want guys to be named. It’s been an excellent learning experience.
Mickelson was previously open to LIV being leveraged to force Tour to adapt. He sees LIV’s TV deal with CW in the same light.
“I believe it’s positive. Mickelson stated that it was difficult to build a relationship with a network committed to other sports and priorities. “CW has the opportunity to cover all 14 events and put us first. We want a younger audience. They were keen to try out live golf and they are now able to do so. It’s a 2-year deal. It’s not going to be a huge deal. We have enough time to prove ourselves and then we can get a bigger and more lucrative deal. It might have been better for them to invest in our product and make a longer deal. It’s two years, but it opens us up to a larger deal.
LIV has secured a TV deal. LIV now needs to earn Official World Golf Ranking points for events. Six-time major champion suggested that a new ranking system would be developed to include all golfers.
“I would not be surprised if tournaments stop using it as a qualifying criteria.” Mickelson stated that Mickelson believes it ultimately hurts the tournaments more then the players. It hurts the tournament even more if you are a major championship that uses it as a qualifying factor. Tournaments might remove it from their qualifying criteria. Or, a new ranking system.
Mickelson, ever optimist, predicts that in five to ten year’s time we will look back on the contentious past year as a minor bump.
Mickelson stated, “It’s short-term disruption for long-term gain.” “That’s all.”
By: Adam Woodard
Title: Phil Mickelson at peace with never playing in Ryder Cup or on PGA Tour again, thinks he can still win ‘one or two more’ majors
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/01/30/phil-mickelson-majors-liv-golf-news-ryder-cup-pga-tour/
Published Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:54:41 +0000
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