Despite criticism from Tiger Woods, others, Phil Mickelson says he ‘couldn’t be happier’ with transfer to LIV Golf

Phil Mickelson mentioned Thursday he “couldn’t be happier” together with his transfer to go away the PGA Tour and be a part of the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Speaking after taking pictures an even-par 72 within the first spherical of The Open Championship at St. Andrews, Mickelson mentioned becoming a member of the controversial tour was the right one — even when it meant taking the criticism of his longtime rival, Tiger Woods, and others.

“I made the right decision for me,” Mickelson mentioned. “And I’m excited about, like I say, having the opportunity to play competitive golf and have it in my life in a more moderate scale to where I can do some things outside of that, too.”

While Mickelson hasn’t disclosed how a lot he’s been paid to play LIV Golf, Bryson DeChambeau mentioned he’ll earn greater than $125 million by the 2026 season. In addition to the cash, gamers have been lured by a less-rigorous tour schedule.

Woods mentioned Tuesday that, in his opinion, those that had left the PGA Tour for the upstart Saudi-financed LIV Golf had achieved improper. LIV commissioner Greg Norman advised The Washington Post final month that Woods rejected a suggestion within the “high nine digits” to go away the PGA Tour.

“I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position,” Woods mentioned of the defectors.

“I certainly respect his opinion,” Mickelson, 52, mentioned. “I have a lot of respect for him. I respect his opinion. I think everybody’s going to have strong emotions and opinions about it, and I certainly respect his.”

The Open is celebrating its a hundred and fiftieth anniversary this week and threw a pair of commemorative occasions earlier this week. Mickelson, who gained The Open in 2013 at Muirfield, didn’t attend due to the LIV controversy.

“The R&A contacted me a couple weeks before and said, ‘Look, we don’t think it’s a great idea you go (to the celebrations), but if you want to, you can,’” Mickelson mentioned. “I just didn’t want to make a big deal about it, so I said fine. We both kind of agreed that it would be best if I didn’t.”

Still, Mickelson mentioned he’s content material together with his state of affairs and looking out ahead to the subsequent LIV Golf occasion on the finish of July at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.

“I couldn’t be happier. I think it’s been really good,” he mentioned. “I can’t wait to get to New Jersey and play another event there. The player experience, the experience of those events from a player standpoint is a 10. You can’t get it any better. Look, it’s not my job to explain or help you understand or whatever. It’s just, I couldn’t be happier.”