Mickelson explains LIV rejection with four-point explanation and PGA Tour dig
Phil Mickelson took aim at the PGA Tour when explaining why LIV Golf saw their application to the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) rejected.
LIV were dealt a huge set back on Tuesday, after the OWGR confirmed they had made the decision to reject the breakaway league's application for ranking points. Since forming in June 2022 the breakaway circuit has been hosting events without points on offer, which has seen its playing members tumble down the rankings.
One of those is Mickelson, who currently finds himself outside the top 100 in 110th, and this is only set to get worse following the Saudi league's latest rejection.
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On the back of the OWGR update earlier this week, the ever-bullish Mickelson took to social media to have his say on the matter, and outlined four points as to why they were turned down, including financial and 'leverage' implications for the breakaway league's main rival, the PGA Tour. His comments came in response to former Masters champion Trevor Immelman, who laid the blame solely on LIV Golf for failing to adapt to OWGR criteria.
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Taking to Twitter (X), Mickelson wrote: "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 points.
"4) last but not least, Tour has BORROWED against the tv deal! If they don’t hit their bench marks and don’t get all their tv money(from CBS :) they will have an immediate capital call. Don’t believe me? Ask Sean McManus." Mickelson's claims split opinion with fans, with one calling on the LIV star to 'stop whining' following his four-point post.
Unsurprisingly the six-time major champion was quick to respond, admitting he 'didn't care' if LIV were ever awarded ranking points or not. "Stating facts isn’t whining and I don’t care if LIV ever gets points," he added.
"This is move 6 in a long game of chess. You won’t believe moves 32-37. That’s when it gets REALLY good." On the back of Tuesday's rejection, the LIV setup were quick to hit back, taking aim at the legitimacy of the rankings without the consistent inclusion of its players.
A statement read: "OWGR’s sole objective is to rank the best players across the globe. Today’s communication makes clear that it can no longer deliver on that objective... A ranking which fails to fairly represent all participants, irrespective of where in the world they play golf, robs fans, players and all of golf’s stakeholders of the objective basis underpinning any accurate recognition of the world’s best player performances.
"It also robs some traditional tournaments of the best fields possible. Professional golf is now without a true or global scoring and ranking system. There is no benefit for fans or players from the lack of trust or clarity as long as the best player performances are not recognised."
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