Phil Mickelson wants peace in LIV-PGA Tour feud, questions merger

By looking at public statements alone, we are no closer to a final deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s financiers than we were a year ago. But Phil Mickelson, LIV’s most high-profile star, isn’t sure an official peace contract is necessary.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Mickelson was asked if a PGA Tour-LIV “merger” was necessary for the future of the game, and he responded with a qualified no. He used 2024 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau as an example.

“I don’t know if it’s necessary. I know that a few years ago it was not an option to have elevated events,” Mickelson told Bloomberg. “It was not an option for players to have equity. And it wasn’t an option for players to transcend social media markets and create YouTube channels and have their own social media posts the way Bryson [DeChambeau] has done. And the way Bryson has brought golf and this cool, hip vibe to so many people on YouTube. That wasn’t an option. So until LIV happened, none of that was going to happen. Now because of LIV those are all happening.”

Essentially, the crux of Mickelson’s argument is that all of the benefits of a merger have already been gained from last year’s Framework Agreement. He even claimed that both the PGA Tour and LIV have improved as a result of the détente, which is questionable when you consider viewership numbers on both tours.

“The competition that both tours are providing is elevating both tours,” Mickelson argued. “So is it necessary that there’s a merger? Probably not. But it would be a good thing if there wasn’t any hostility.”

As for that hostility, Mickelson pointed the finger at himself, saying that he needs to get over his own anger from the yearslong pro-golf feud, as does everyone else, for the golf world to move on and prosper.”

“I need to let that stuff go. I need to let go of all the experiences I have had in the past that were less than positive,” Mickelson said. “I need to let go of my hostilities, and we all do for the betterment of the game.”

Mickelson also revealed that while the PGA Tour-PIF negotiations are active, he is not a part of them, and is instead focused on the wins he and other LIV players already achieved through the initial brokered peace.

“All of the factors that are taking place quietly behind closed doors need to be ironed out, and other people are working on that, that’s something that’s getting done,” Mickelson said. “But as that disruption phase takes place, the stranglehold on sponsors, the stranglehold on manufacturers, the stranglehold on players, the control that was had is being let go. And so now that there is talk of this potential merger and so forth sponsors are more interested, it’s not as controversial. Players are starting to come over more, they’re starting to see the benefits.”

Mickelson’s comments displayed a markedly different tone than LIV CEO Greg Norman’s own remarks during the same Bloomberg interview segment. Norman sounded off on the “vitriol and hatred” directed at the first group of pros to join LIV two years ago, calling their treatment “disgusting.”

Kevin Cunningham

Golf.com Editor

As managing producer for GOLF.com, Cunningham edits, writes and publishes stories on GOLF.com, and manages the brand’s e-newsletters, which reach more than 1.4 million subscribers each month. A former two-time intern, he also helps keep GOLF.com humming outside the news-breaking stories and service content provided by our reporters and writers, and works with the tech team in the development of new products and innovative ways to deliver an engaging site to our audience.