‘They will be accepting of it’: Phil Mickelson hints at LIV Golf’s future

To talk more about the future of LIV Golf, Phil Mickelson wants to first talk more about cricket.

“I didn’t grow up with cricket, but I am becoming somewhat aware of what Kerry Packer did to evolve cricket and to pay professional cricket players a reasonable fee,” Mickelson said on Thursday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “I mean, I think they were making $200 a game back in the ’70s and they weren’t getting paid and there wasn’t television rights and they were all having to have jobs. And yet there was still money coming in.

“And when Kerry Packer came and got involved and started paying them what they were worth and what they were bringing in, it totally changed. And we’re seeing that happen now.”

Mickelson is adamant LIV Golf has a bright future, and we’ll get more into that later. Right now he’s overseas for LIV’s seventh of eight 2022 events. He’s been surprisingly quiet for much of the year, speaking matter-of-factly but without divulging too much. The tight-lipped version of Mickelson didn’t really emerge until after some unsavory comments of his were published in a book excerpt from Alan Shipnuck earlier this year. He took some time away from the game before he reappeared in London with a different look and, arguably, persona.

But on Thursday, he let loose a little more, kind of like the old Phil. He didn’t shy away from making headlines and also spoke about the future of LIV Golf.

In July, LIV released a master plan for its 2023 season. It includes 14 events (six more than this inaugural year), $405 million in purses and more emphasis on the team component. Unlike this year, when some players competed on different teams, all 48 players will be contracted to 12 four-man teams for the entire 2023 schedule. There will also be a relegation system put in place at the end of the season.

As the captain of the Hy Flyers, Mickelson’s team ranks 9th out of 12 with only this week’s Jeddah event remaining before the Team Championship at Trump Doral in two weeks. He said this week is important to gain momentum for the finale, which will then give them time to regroup for next year. That’s when his duties as captain will pick up steam.

“Next year there will be a lot more cohesiveness involved with the team as we look, as the team takes upon all the individual responsibilities,” he said.

Mickelson used a typical Tour pro as an example. Players often put together their own teams — agents, coaches, trainers, nutritionists, travel plans and even chefs. All of that will fall under a team umbrella next year.

“Being able to travel together that’s one thing. Being able to have a team where we’re dividing the cost up amongst — the team’s covering the cost but spreading it out over four guys essentially that include training, include therapists will allow us to be in a position to succeed, play our best, elongate our career,” he said. “And those are intangibles that we really don’t have in the individual aspects of playing professional golf that this team aspect provides.”

On Wednesday, Dustin Johnson, another high-profile LIV signee, joked about his decision to join the breakaway league.

“I really regret my decision to come here,” Johnson said, sporting a sarcastic tone and a big smile. He’s earned more than $30 million this year. “It’s just so terrible.”

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Mickelson used a more serious delivery to reflect on LIV Golf and its path forward.

“The United States and the U.K. are not favorable to this, but everywhere outside of the world LIV Golf is loved,” Mickelson said. “And eventually they come around and they will be accepting of it. But everywhere else in the world, the ability to move these tournaments throughout the world — and I’ve spoke with people that have had dealings that have not been positive with the Tour and have had nothing but positive experience with LIV.

“It opens up opportunities to move professional golf throughout the world in other countries and grow the game internationally,” he continued. “Now, again, outside a few countries, the United States and the U.K., where it’s very negatively viewed currently, that has been changing and evolving already and in time in a few years it will be not only accepted but appreciated the involvement and the influx of capital into this sport and what it’s doing.”

Mickelson, for good measure, had one more comment to make regarding LIV’s future. It involved the PGA Tour.

“I see LIV Golf trending upwards, I see the PGA Tour trending downwards,” he said, “and I love the side that I’m on.”