Phil Mickelson was back at it on Thursday while in Saudi Arabia, prepping for the latest LIV Golf event in Jeddah. And by back at it, we mean throwing shade at the Official World Golf Ranking for announcing that it will not include events on his tour at least in the short term.
Mickelson has been vocal about this issue in the past, and this time, he responded to a tweet from a fellow Masters champion as the point to dive back in.
“If I were going to start a pro golf tour, and I decided that I wanted my tour to have world ranking points available for the players, I’d probably at the outset make sure that my tour did whatever the world ranking organization required in order to comply,” Trevor Immelman tweeted late Wednesday. Immelman, of course, if the 2008 Masters champion who now serves as CBS Sports’ lead golf analyst.
Eleven hours later, mid-afternoon in Saudi Arabia, Mickelson responded, which can be read below.
Trevor, LIV was NEVER going to get points. Why? 1)it’s a monopoly run by all the governing bodies 2) the PGA Tour tv contract is based on owgr criteria for them to get all their money 3) they would lose leverage in negotiations if LIV got points4) last but not least, Tour has…
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) October 12, 2023
As you can imagine, this opened the floor for more back and forth between fans and media alike. Here is Mickelson’s response to the “stop whining” crowd.
Stating facts isn’t whining and I don’t care if LIV ever gets points. This is move 6 in a long game of chess. You won’t believe moves 32-37. That’s when it gets REALLY good. 😎
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) October 12, 2023
More of Mickelson’s explanations and takes can be read on his replies tab. But we’ll leave you with this one, where he reiterates that he believes not being ranked has nothing to do with the fact that LIV Golf only plays 54 holes.
Nope. That’s just their public excuse so they can protect each. A lot of people believe it too 😂
Can’t blame them though cuz people like you simply don’t have all the facts. That’s why I’m sharing them with you now. You’re welcome.— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) October 12, 2023
