This is a true fact: the golf world is now burning under the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf debate. Last year, a large number of notable PGA golfers, including Phil Mickelson, switched to LIV Golf. Some argued that this was due to the extraordinarily lucrative benefits, but for many players, it was all about broadening their golf horizons.
But Greg Norman’s LIV Golf is still on a rocky path to establishing itself in the world of golf. The largest roadblock facing LIV at the moment is its inability to receive OWGR approval. This definitely irks the LIV golfers. Mickelson, who has always been vocal in his opinions, talks about the issue and how the PGA Tour’s monopoly is undermining LIV Golf. Now the LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour debate has again been reignited by one tweet.
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Fans give mixed reactions to the fiery LIV Golf vs PGA tweet
Golf enthusiasts were really excited about a recent tweet sent by the well-known golf fan account Flushing It. It speaks to the claim made by ‘Lefty’ about the PGA Tour, and how it appears to be coming to pass.
Lefty this week: “PGA is colluding with the PGA Tour against LIV.”
PGA this week:
• overlooks higher ranked LIV guys for PGA Championship invites
• says LIV should settle in legal disputes with the PGA Tour
• says LIV’s business model is failing
• says LIV players have…— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) May 13, 2023
Some fans agreed with Mickelson and talked about the monopoly of the PGA Tour:
PGA: Players Gaslighting Association
— LIV Golf Nation (@LIVGolfNation) May 13, 2023
CBS' Masters broadcast lichrally only showed Phil from the back to avoid having his HyFlyers logos on screen.
There are no limits to the conspiratorial treachery. https://t.co/TJBddZLS7z— MPG (@ModernProGolf) May 13, 2023
Of course they r colluding. Not so subtly i think. The msgs the last few days are crystal clear: LIV is the enemy n we’re gonna destroy u. Ways of war.
— niko tatem (@niko_tatem) May 13, 2023
Some have even said that the LIV golf model is, in fact, ineffective.
No… if you believe anything the lefty says you need psychiatric help
LIV’s business model is not only failing it’s non-existent, spend spend spend until you run out of money and then ask the Saudis for more is not a business model— Steve Muir (@stevosoft) May 13, 2023
LIVs business model is failing. They said it would be sponsored teams like formula 1 and the aim was to create a profitable product. There’s no chance
— Steve (@SteveGolf18_72) May 13, 2023
Many fans thought that Mickelson was using this as a means of evading his obligations.
Same Phil that promised so many LIV recruits they'd be able to cherry pick comps and get OWGR points. I'm not sure even he believes the nonsense he spouts, apart from when he deletes it 🙄
— Nobody (@gr8ballsoff1re) May 13, 2023
No….and when has he been?? Defelcting as per usual.
— chris ring (@pumpeamosatope) May 13, 2023
One fan even disparaged the discussion of LIV Golf.
Liv #collusion on power rankings. Not one PGA Tour player is in the liv rankings.
liv is #colluding with the murderous Saudi Government to keep the PGA Tour out of the liv rankings. These liv rankings are bogus and have no merit to them.— Joseph Michael ↙️ (@ma5660) May 13, 2023
One fan even argued that putting LIV golfers out of the game would hurt the PGA Tour.
Only hurting themselves. May not be a major in 5 years if they want to exclude the best players 🤷♂️
— Simon (@pennypacker_78) May 13, 2023
Phil Mickelson attacks the unfair USGA rules
The USGA recently modified the US Open qualifying rule. The phrase “those players qualifying for the season-ending Tour Championship” was altered to “those players who qualified and were eligible for the season-ending 2022 Tour Championship.” Talor Gooch, a golfer with LIV, was impacted by the language change. He was unable to compete in the Tour Championship last year after switching to LIV Golf. This year he was formerly qualified, but not any longer due to the modified rules.
via Imago
American Phil Mickelson answers questions from the media at a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz for the inaugural LIV Golf event at the Centurion club in Hertfordshire on Wednesday, June 08, 2022.The event is controversial due to golfer s such as Dustin Johnson leaving the PGA, Golf Herren tour to take part and because it is funded by Saudi Arabian money. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY LON2022060809 HUGOxPHILPOTT. Image Courtesy: IMAGO
This was problematic not just for Gooch but also for Mickelson, the 2021 PGA Champion.
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“[Gooch] qualified 9 months ago via Tour championship,” Mickelson tweeted. “3 months ago Whan changed the wording on the qualifying criteria to take it away. Total d–k move by Whan. He leads our governing body. Sad.”
Read More: Days After an Impressive 25 Pound Weight Loss, Phil Mickelson Locks His Next Big Target at 52
Mickelson’s remark sparked controversy regarding fairness and transparency in golf. For the time being, there is no conclusion to the debate. Supporters of their respective leagues will always give their justification. Only time will tell how golf will be affected by this.
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What do you think about the tweet? Let us know in the comments below.
Watch This Story: After Signing a Reported $200M Deal, Phil Mickelson Believes LIV Golf Is ‘100%’ Pushing Him to Rewrite History Once Again
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