In terms of media responsibilities, LIV Golf stars like Phil Mickelson have it much easier than they did on the PGA Tour. But Mickelson has long found it hard not to speak his mind. That’s how the six-time major champion got into hot water this week, when he turned an innocent question into a harsh criticism of the PGA Tour.
But Mickelson’s point was not about the pros playing on LIV. Instead, his focus was on golf fans, arguing that fans at LIV events are “relaxed,” while spectators leave PGA Tour events “tired and run down.”
Mickelson says LIV fans are happier than PGA Tour fans
Friday marks the start of the LIV Golf Michigan tournament, the 2025 team championship event. So on Thursday, Mickelson took part in a pre-tournament press conference. Unlike on the PGA Tour, where pros conduct solo media sessions several times during a tournament week, LIV pros typically only have to do one. And they get to do it alongside other pros.
On Thursday, Mickelson was joined by the 11 other team captains taking part in the team championship. As a result of the crowded stage, Phil spoke only a few times. But it didn’t take much time for him to cause a stir.
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Toward the end of the press conference, a reporter directed a question to Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, asking them how the experience at LIV tournaments is better than the PGA Tour for players and fans alike.
That’s when Mickelson made his bold claim, arguing that fans leave Tour events “stressed about not interfering and being quiet and so forth,” while LIV fans walk away “wanting more.”
“I can’t really say from the fans’ point of view other than what I’ve heard because I haven’t been a spectator,” Mickelson said Thursday. “It seems that, when fans are leaving [LIV events], they’ve had a good time. They’ve left relaxed, enjoying and wanting more, rather than have the day drag on, being tired and run down, and being stressed about not interfering and being quiet and so forth. It seems as though the fans have walked away from the experience having fun and wanting more.”
You can watch the full press conference below.
Phil reveals ‘anxiousness’ he felt on PGA Tour
But Mickelson didn’t stop there. In addition to offering a harsh comparison between PGA Tour and LIV fans, Mickelson revealed that his experience at tournaments has improved greatly since his move to LIV.
Mickelson said that he’d often feel “anxiousness” leading up to Tour events, and as a result would show up as late as possible. On the other hand, he said time on LIV has been “better than I could imagine.”
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“From the players’ experience, rather than going into every little detail, I would just say that I used to have anxiousness going to a [PGA Tour] event with all the details and things that would go on,” Mickelson said. “I would be anxious and not want to go. I’d go as late as I could. A LIV event, I can’t wait to get here. I come earlier. I can’t wait to get here. The experience from a player’s standpoint, it’s better than I could have ever imagined.”
Friday morning, Mickelson took to X to add more details to his thinking. There, he claimed that on the PGA Tour “the love I have for the game was being overshadowed by all the bs.
“I could go into the details of everything I had to do for the tour, sponsors, fans, media and more and we could argue over details and such but you can’t argue with how I feel. The love I have for the game was was being overshadowed by all the bs and I found myself dreading it. On LIV I can’t wait get get here and it’s the same for every player out here. That’s a fact that is indisputable.”
Mickelson is the captain of the HyFlyers GC LIV team. They ended the regular season in 10th in the LIV team standings. Mickelson’s HyFlyers face off against Sergio Garcia’s third-ranked Fireballs GC team in Round 1 of the team championship at LIV Michigan on Friday.
