The LIV Golf vs PGA Tour battle, or Showdown 2024 is officially over! The event took place at the luxurious Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas. It was the PGA Tour pros who won and took home a staggering $10 million, which will be awarded in CRO cryptocurrency. There were only two pros from each side, but fans did not miss the OG, Phil Mickelson, of such exhibition matches. In his place was Rory McIlroy, who filled the void with his quick wit and sharp tongue.

During the play, Charles Barkley asked McIlroy while he was eating something, “How much do you eat in a regular round?” To this, McIlroy wittily responded, “Not as much as you, Chuck!” This lighthearted jab at Barkley’s expense has sparked excitement among fans, who are eager to see more of McIlroy’s verbal sparring skills on display.

It is clear that McIlroy is taking over as the new king of trash talk. Mickelson, known for his legendary trash-talking skills, had previously aimed at his own teammate, Barkley during The Match 3 in 2020. “I’m honored to have him as my partner. I’m not overly optimistic about having him as my partner, but I do think we’re going to be able to come out on top. We’re going to find a way, we’re just going to find a way.  And Charles, out of the three of us, has not really won his championship. Peyton’s won Super Bowls, I’ve been able to win some majors on tour, Steph’s won the NBA Championship. Charles never did. Now, he won the gold medal in the Olympics, but I view this as a chance for him to finally get his championship.”

Wow, Mickelson went there. That year, Lefty was teamed up with Berkeley and their opponents were Peyton Manning and Stephen Curry. This was not the only playful jibe 6x major winner took at his teammate.

Ahead of the event that year, Steph posted a snippet of Buck’s swing, and wrote, “They’re gonna have to put that 24-second shot clock on Chuck for this thing. He’s gonna be burning daylight out there @PhilMickelson #TheMatch“ To this Lefty jokingly replied, “They’re gonna have to put that 24-second shot clock on Chuck for this thing. He’s gonna be burning daylight out there @PhilMickelson #TheMatch“ To this, Lefty jokingly replied, “Losing to this swing will be DEVASTATING.” 

Troll King, if we might add but why is it that Lefty takes such light-hearted jabs seriously?

But what’s behind Phil Mickelson’s trash-talk culture?

According to Ty Webb, “Trash talking is like a delicate dance—it requires finesse, timing, and a keen understanding of your opponent’s temperament.” And Mickelson just proved that back in November 2020. During The Match, Mickelson’s banter with Charles Barkley was on full display. The two men, paired together, took on Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning in a highly entertaining matchup.

But what made Mickelson’s trash talk so effective was his ability to read his opponents. He knew exactly when to strike, using his humor to deflect attention and gain a mental edge. As Ty Webb says, “A good trash talker knows how to push his opponent’s buttons without pushing too hard.” 

Have you ever engaged in playful banter while playing a round? Share your stories in the comments below.