
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 20, 2021; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA; Phil Mickelson gestures to the fans in attendance on the 17th hole during the third round of The Honda Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

USA Today via Reuters
Mar 20, 2021; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA; Phil Mickelson gestures to the fans in attendance on the 17th hole during the third round of The Honda Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
The final LIV Golf Invitational Series event, the team event, was intense. All the team captains and members tried their best to keep their competition on their toes through their game plans or trash talks. However, as the event ended, their rivalry also seemed to fade. Even Phil Mickelson called a truce with his LIV Golf trash-talks companion, Cameron Smith, with his latest statement.
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“I love watching Cam Smith swing a golf club,” Mickelson said in the commentary booth as his team was not in contention, after getting eliminated in the quarterfinals held last Friday. His statement came after the 150th Open champion accused him of his slow play in their one-on-one in the quarterfinals.
Phil Mickelson admires Cam Smith and has a reason to do so!
“He (Cameron Smith) is my favorite player to watch right now,” the 6-time major champion revealed. “Because he is a swinger of the club. He’s not really a hitter,” he also explained his reason to like his colleague, among others.
I think the biggest loss for the PGAT w Phil is his exceptional insights in the game & entertaining commentary. He was primed for 18 Tower at CBS, but now LIV is the beneficiary of Mickelson’s magic on the mic. pic.twitter.com/3mFv4Ga4Oe
— Luke Elvy (@Luke_Elvy) October 30, 2022
Mickelson, the captain of Hy Flyers GC, and Smith, the captain of Punch GC, competed against each other in a one-on-one match in the quarterfinals. Since he was an opponent then, the HC Flyers captain revealed that he couldn’t watch Smith’s beautiful and stable swings. “When I have a chance to watch his play,” he added, “It’s special.”
The 52-year-old praised the Australian golfer, after the latter called him out for his slow play during their one-on-one match. “That was a bit painful,” Smith said as he pointed out how annoyed he was by Mickelson’s slow play that put the duo three-four holes behind everyone else.
Read More: When Phil Mickelson Had the Highest Order of Praise for Tiger Woods Despite Their Long-Time Rivalry
Mickelson was quick to come to terms with Smith and their rivalry. Meanwhile, he and Tiger Woods, who are known to have been rivals to each other for a long time, still have yet to do the same.
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A lifelong rivalry with Tiger Woods
The feud between Tiger Woods and Mickelson goes a long way back. The duo was fond of competing with each other on and off the course.

via Getty
AKRON, OH – AUGUST 01: Phil Mickelson (L) and Tiger Woods meet during a preview day of the World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course at on August 1, 2018 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Notably, Mickelson once revealed that their relationship evolved into friendship by working together at the 2016 Ryder Cup. The golfers even played The Match twice in 2018, and 2020. However, Woods’ sarcastic tweet against his rival after winning the 2021 PIP, which Mickelson had claimed he won, suggests that the duo still hasn’t become friends.
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Unlike his feud with Woods, Mickelson doesn’t want to drag his rivalry with Cam Smith too much. What do you think is the reason behind it?
Watch This Story: A Furious Phil Mickelson Once Got Into a Heated Argument With a Reporter
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