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Hours Before the US Open, Concerning Update Dominates the Headlines As Rory McIlroy Ignites a New Reported Beef With Phil Mickelson

Published 06/14/2023, 2:51 PM EDT

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As stories of a potential beef between two well-known golfers, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, surface, rumors are rife in the industry. The event happened during a practice round that was scheduled before the eagerly awaited 2023 US Open at the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club. Fans and journalists alike have been riveted by the mix-up between these golfing legends, which heightens the suspense around the upcoming competition.

The relationship between McIlroy and Mickelson will be constantly watched by the public and the media as the US Open approaches, eagerly awaiting any new developments. Golf fans all across the world are anticipating the opening tee shot in the hopes that the matchup between McIlroy and Mickelson will live up to the drama and intensity that are expected.

The rumored rift between McIlroy and Mickelson at the 2023 US Open

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When Rory McIlroy was incorrectly named by the USGA to play a practice round with Phil Mickelson, the excitement for the US Open was raised. The rivalry between the two golfers has a long history, and McIlroy has been outspoken about his dislike of LIV Golf even after the PGA Tour partnered with the league’s Saudi financiers. 

McIlroy made a calculated decision to postpone his news conference in order to concentrate all of his attention on a breakthrough performance. He has not won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship. 

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It’s interesting that Mickelson had no media engagements planned prior to the major. This is probably because of the controversy he caused last year after being accused of sport-swashing following the debut of LIV Golf. 

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Their conflict was started by McIlroy, who referred to LIV Golf as “dead in the water” and referred to Mickelson’s comments as “naive, selfish, egotistical, and ignorant.”

McIlroy was forced to admit that times had changed after finding himself in an embarrassing circumstance. McIlroy didn’t tee off next to Mickelson on Wednesday, despite taking part in a practice round. 

According to a report, Mickelson played alongside David Puig, another member of the LIV Golf team, giving their developing chemistry a unique twist. The blunder draws attention to the lingering hostilities between these golfing heavyweights and paves the way for an engaging story at the 2019 US Open.

Giants of Golf to Face Off at US Open in San Diego

The US Open is being hosted at Los Angeles Country Club in San Diego this week, and as the golfing world focuses on the event, Phil Mickelson, a seasoned veteran of the sport, confronts the challenge of winning this famous championship for the first time. Despite accumulating an excellent record of 31 attempts, Mickelson has missed out on winning the championship six times, coming in either alone second or tied for second.

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Mickelson has a special affection for San Diego because he has won 12 times in tournaments there. Although Mickelson recently made history by becoming the oldest male golfer to win a major at the 2021 PGA Championship, he still faces a long shot to continue his brilliant career with another major triumph.

However, alongside noteworthy competitors like Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy enters the US Open as one of the favorites. McIlroy is a serious contender for the title thanks to his reliable play and impressive abilities. 

While McIlroy is out with Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama, Mickelson is playing with Padraig Harrington and Keegan Bradley for the first two rounds of the tournament.  

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What’s your opinion on the alleged conflict between McIlroy and Mickelson adding fuel to the fire of their existing rivalry? Write down your opinions in the comment box.

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Written by:

Arpan Ghosh

174Articles

One take at a time

Arpan Ghosh is a is a fresh golf writer at EssentiallySports who was chosen in the recent round of ‘ES Draft’ for his strong enthusiasm for golf. Arpan seconds the notion that golf is a sport laced with strategy and mental tenacity, which he feels is depicted by Tiger Woods perfectly. Ghosh has also been known to indulge in some light everyday reading, with Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf being his favorite read.
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Edited by:

Manaal Siddiqui

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