Phil Mickelson said again that LIV Golf is here to stay, and this time he brought strong evidence to support his opinion.
On Wednesday, the three-time Masters champion joined the Pat McAfee show on ESPN and explained why Jon Rahm’s recent signing with the Saudi-funded league is a clear sign that LIV isn’t going anywhere.
Mickelson, a fellow Arizona State alum and close friend of Rahm’s, said that Rahm’s decision created a “bridge” for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to forge a path towards unification.
Although Mickelson reminded viewers that he is not involved with the ongoing PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment fund negotiations, he is certain that Rahm’s move altered those conversations.
“With Jon Rahm signing on, what it’s done is create a bridge and an opportunity for us to come together,” Mickelson explained. “Because the realization is, LIV isn’t going away. That’s what the talk is. It’s ridiculous.”
Mickelson said Rahm’s move to LIV should prompt organizations to rethink their vision for the future of pro golf—including the four major championships and the PGA Tour.
“If we’re the majors and we want to have the best field and keep on the tradition of these great events, we’re going to have to have the best players in the world and create a qualifying system for these players to get there,” Mickelson continued. “If you’re the PGA Tour and you realize that your most important asset is the quality of field and your players, and you are going to keep losing players if you don’t work together—this is a bridge that is now opening those conversations to start Workimg Together
