29 June 2023 , 13:50
628
0
Phil Mickelson has finally opened up on the proposed agreement between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia that will see LIV Golf work alongside its rival.
The shock deal between the feuding tours was announced on June 6, one week before the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club. Unsurprisingly, the proposed merger was the biggest talking point heading into the third major of the season.
One opinion everybody was keen to hear in Los Angeles was Mickelson's. The American star has found himself at the centre of the saga surrounding LIV Golf since its inception last summer.
Despite this, the six-time major winner refused to be drawn into the discussion, with Mickelson focusing on his efforts on the course rather than what was going on off it. He told Sports Illustrated at the time: "I'll be happy to talk later [about the agreement]. I just don’t want to waste any energy on it at the beginning of the week."
"We had talked about doing something but I’d rather not do it this week. I'd rather do it later, nothing’s happening anytime soon."
Bubba Watson shares details of horror knee injury ahead of LIV Golf debut
Two weeks on though, 'Lefty' has decided now is the right time to talk and given his thoughts on recent events. With LIV hosting its first event in Mainland Europe this season, a 54-hole tournament at at Valderrama in Andalucia, Mickelson has declared he is "confident" about the future direction of the game.
Mickelson declined to talk about the LIV Golf-PGA Tour deal when he appeared at the US Open (Getty Images)Mickelson said: "I would say I felt appreciation that we got to this point where we're working together because it makes me confident with where the game of golf is headed in the future," he said.
"We felt like it was going to be about two years roughly before we got to that point. It took a year and a half or six months quicker than I thought it would be."
"Going forward, we're all very optimistic about where the game of golf, professional golf specifically, is headed.
"Also, a lot of the changes that have been made because of LIV were all very [appreciated], both on the LIV Tour as well as the PGA Tour, and we're happy for the guys out there that they're having some positive changes there, as well."