‘Phil in 40th Place’: Golf World Left Divided As Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and More Gear Up For $25,000,000 LIV Event

Amidst great chaos and upheaval in the golf community, LIV is now all set to kick off the eighth tournament of its 2023 season in just a few days. This is the first time that the likes of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cam Smith, and more will be descending upon continental Europe for a LIV event.

Ahead of the tournament, the Saudi-backed league took to the internet to drop an interesting update. Golf fans have also taken to social media to drop their thoughts and predictions concerning the event!

LIV Golf drops interesting update for upcoming event

Referred to as the Augusta of Europe, the Real Club Valderrama has hosted a flurry of coveted golfing events in the past, including the Ryder Cup, Spanish Open, and the WGC Championship.

Now, the prestigious venue in Sotogrande, Spain, will be hosting a LIV event for the first time ever!

On Sunday, @HyFlyers_GC took to Twitter to share a hilarious edit of team captain Phil Mickelson flying with a cape on. “Next stop, Valderrama,” read the caption accompanying the photo.

For years, Valderrama was a regular fixture on the DP World Tour. After all, the renowned club has played host to the Andalucia Masters eight times in the past. However, the event venue was subsequently dropped from the Tour’s 2023 schedule after being linked with LIV.

Also Read: In the Light of the Famous $3B Merger, Can LIV Golf Fans Watch the Valderrama’s $25 Million Event on Golf Channel?

Spain’s Sergio Garcia, along with Spanish-born Eugenio Chacarra and David Puig, will be a part of the 48-player field for the tournament. Garcia has previously registered three professional events at Valderrama and a total of seven victories on Spanish soil.

Golf fans give their predictions for LIV Valderrama

As the event draws near, fans have taken to the internet to share their predictions and apprehensions. Some believe that Garcia, who is all too familiar with Valderrama, will be lifting the title this year. Several fans also voiced support for Cameron Smith, who achieved top-10 finishes in his last two major appearances.

Another predicted that 6-time major winner Phil Mickelson would have a lackluster appearance in the tournament. The golfer had last appeared at the US Open, where he failed to make the cut.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the new PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger, many hoped for a surprise appearance from World No. 2 Jon Rahm. After all, it was the 1997 Ryder Cup at the Spanish venue that sparked a love and passion for golf in the 2-time major winner.

Some fans still have their inhibitions about the league, with one opining that the tournament will be plagued by “low viewership.”

LIV Valderrama will be held from June 30th to July 2nd and will boast a 48-player field. Just like other LIV events, it will also feature a $25,000,000 prize purse, out of which $5 million is reserved for team events.

Watch This Story: Moments After Congratulating Wyndham Clark on His $3.6 Million Glory, LIV Defector’s Comment Backfired on Him

What are your predictions for the LIV Valderrama event? Which golfer do you think will win the tournament? Tell us in the comments!