Phil Mickelson slams major champion for “low class jerk move”

Phil Mickelson has taken aim at Fred Couples after his fellow Masters champion claimed Brooks Koepka wants to return to the PGA Tour.

Couples fanned the flames on Sunday when he told KLR 93.3FM that Koepka is keen to return to his old domain after three years competing solely on the LIV Golf circuit.

“I talked to Brooks Koepka all the time,” Couples said. “He wants to come back. I will say that I believe he really wants to come back and play the Tour.”

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Mickelson responded to those comments in a now deleted reply on X.

“If it’s not true he damaged a relationship which he cares about. If it is true he took away Brooks’ control of the timeline and narrative,” the six-time major champion wrote.

“Either way this is a low class jerk move by Fred.”

There of course, has been history with Couples – a staunch PGA Tour supporter – and Mickelson – LIV’s firestarter.

When unloading on the breakaway league after its first season in March 2023, Couples called Mickelson a “nutbag”, but insisted he still “likes” him.

“If you’re giving Phil Mickelson $200 million at age 52 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you,” the 65-year-old said.

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Couples later defended his comments ahead of a potentially awkward meeting at the Masters champions dinner in 2023, where Mickelson and Koepka went on to finish joint second.

“He’s one of the best players who’s ever played, loves this place as much as I do and if we did we’d look at each other on the first hole and we’d have a good time,” Couples insisted.

And Couples admitted last week that he has eased on his criticism of LIV as the tensions between the warring tours cool during peace negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

“I’m not nearly as vocal as I was because everything’s kind of calmed down,” Couples said on Sunday.

“I want to say Jon Rahm is the last guy to leave here, maybe there’s been one or two more. Basically no one, you know.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.