Six-time major champion and current LIV Golf pro Phil Mickelson recently made a return to X. But he seems to have forgotten one key factor about using the platform. While you can delete posts, regretful missives will live on via the screenshot.
Mickelson was reminded of that lesson on Tuesday, when he posted a harsh critique of recent comments by Fred Couples to X and then deleted it, but only after it had spread around the internet via a popular X golf account.
First, some background. Couples joined Seattle-based KJR 93.3 FM for an interview with hosts Dave Mahler and Dick Fain. Couples has long been an outspoken critic of LIV Golf, and in the interview, he expressed skepticism about LIV pros rejoining the PGA Tour if a final agreement with the PIF is signed.
But it was his comments about LIV star Brooks Koepka that drew Mickelson’s ire. In the interview, Couples said he speaks with Koepka frequently. Then he claimed that Brooks wants to ditch LIV and return to the PGA Tour.
“I talk to Brooks Koepka all the time. I love Brooks Koepka. And, I’m not going to say anything extra except I talk to him all the time — where are you playing next and, you know, when you going and all this stuff — and he wants to come back, I will say that. I believe he really wants to come back and play the Tour,” Couples said on KJR 93.3 FM.
Mickelson, who was a central figure in the creation of LIV, couldn’t help but respond. On Tuesday, he posted his now-deleted tweet, calling Couples’ comments about Koepka a “low class jerk move.”
“If it’s not true he damaged a relationship which he cares about. If it is true he took away Brook’s control of the timeline and narrative. Either way this is a low class jerk move by Fred,” Mickelson wrote.
Mickelson’s argument is simple. According to him, Couples either lied about Koepka’s interest in coming back to the PGA Tour, which could threaten their relationship. Or, Couples jumped the gun and revealed Koepka’s private thoughts.
Without any word from Koepka, you’ll have to decide for yourself if Mickelson’s comments were out of line. The fact that Mickelson deleted the post at least suggests he regretted sending it.
As for a possible reunification between the PGA Tour and LIV, rumors had been spreading that a final agreement could be settled imminently that would see LIV pros playing in Tour events this year.
But on Tuesday, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was asked by reporters if a final deal could be announced at next week’s Players Championship, to which he replied, “I don’t see that happening.”
