Phil Mickelson demands apology from PGA Tour

Phil Mickelson has called for the PGA Tour to make a public apology to he and others who defected to the LIV Golf League.

The six-time major champion made the claim on social media in response to reports that he and the likes of Talor Gooch and Pat Perez could be “given no favours” in the PGA Tour’s peace deal with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.

The PIF, which bankrolls LIV, struck an agreement with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in June, designed to unify the men’s professional game and bring an end to more than a year of division and, in some instances, naked hostility.

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Now, as the terms of that agreement continue to be thrashed out, it has been suggested in a leaked memo that Mickelson and others who were openly critical of the PGA Tour and / or participated in an antitrust lawsuit against the circuit could face the most severe repercussions for their actions.

Others who left the tour without parting shots – the likes of Dustin Johnson and Cam Smith, for example – are expected to be welcomed back with fewer penalties than Mickelson, Gooch, Perez and Co.

Responding to those reports, Mickelson doubled down and insisted that is the PGA Tour that should be apologising to him, and not the other way around.

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“What a colossal waste of time,” said the 53-year-old. “Not a single player on LIV wants to play PGA Tour.

“It would require a public apology and restitution to LIV players for paying millions to Clout media to disparage all of us.

“A better topic is future sanctions for the many players who now come to LIV.”

Mickelson is scheduled to make his next competitive appearance in this week’s LIV Golf event at The Greebrier in West Virginia.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor