It’s been a year since the LIV Golf Series started its operations with its inaugural set of events. Despite insurmountable hurdles and severe backlash, the league has retained its marquee players together. Among them is veteran golfer Phil Mickelson, who had infamously ignited fire before the series even started.

Yet, the six-time major championship winner has made it through. He even got the best seats in the house to witness the legal battle unfold before the announcement of the merger. As luck would have it, Mickelson has also maintained a healthy record on the PGA TOUR, where he stands merely behind the great Tiger Woods.

Phil Mickelson maintains second-best status to Tiger Woods

A winner of 45 PGA TOUR events, Mickelson has won more than a handful over the years. It has translated well into his wallet, as the seasoned golfer has cashed in $96,577,701 in official tour earnings.

The total stood a solid second to his long-time nemesis, Tiger Woods, who stands at $120,954,766. Since making the switch to the LIV Golf Series, Mickelson has effectively put a stop to his count, which stands in danger to be obliterated by some of the other tour golfers.

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However, he will have limited chances to boost his PGA TOUR earnings, though. While Mickelson’s allegiance doesn’t guarantee participation in his former tour, the 53-year-old can make headway in all four major championships.

Incidentally, the three-time Masters champion had a fruitful outing at Augusta this season. The veteran galloped his way to the top after a whirlwind final round on Sunday, which eventually earned him a T2 finish and a payout worth $1,584,000.

But what urged Mickelson to leave the tour in the first place? While his LIV compatriots made a rather silent switch, the 2021 PGA Championship winner was caught in a fireball after his comments regarding the LIV Golf Series were made public.

When Phil Mickelson took time out of golf after LIV Golf fiasco

At the onset of LIV Golf, the veteran golfer was offered a lucrative contract that spilled in the media. But if that wasn’t enough, excerpts from sportswriter Alan Shipnuck’s then-upcoming book about Mickelson became public, where the latter seemed to choose the breakaway league in order to “leverage” the PGA TOUR for its actions.

The story caught fire and agitated fans within the golf community. Amidst severe criticism, Mickelson apologized on social media before taking a sabbatical from golf itself.

He eventually returned, but on the PIF-backed LIV Golf Series. It turned into a domino effect for other contracted players, the majority of whom shifted their allegiances too.

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