“Tiger Jumps on the Jet… Phil’s in the Back Alleys…”: Alan Shipnuck Lets Himself Be Presumptuous While Dropping a Brutal Fact About LIV Golf, PGA Tour Rivalry

Until last year, the PGA Tour stood as a respectful and regal golf association for decades. However, 2022 witnessed LIV Golf’s inclusion in the golf roster, which presented a challenge for the Tour fraternity. Thus began the great golf rivalry between the two sides, and to top it all off, even the advocates of both sides, Tiger Woods (PGA Tour) and Phil Mickelson (LIV Golf), also share a history of hostility.

While many instances of the top legends’ clashes have come to light over the years, Alan Shipnuck, the American sports writer, has this time brought yet another juicy story. The American sports writer has spilled the beans on the PGAT-LIV rivalry, keeping the two backers in respect.

Alan Shipnuck confesses grave concerns about the PGAT-LIV strife with Tiger Woods at the center

The greatest golfer of all time, Tiger Woods, has always been regarded as an inspirational figure and idol. On the contrary, Phil Mickelson, who is from the same era, didn’t receive that level of affection.

Now, this evident difference between them has created a tussle between the two. One such example is from last year, when Tiger Woods orchestrated Phil Mickelson’s exclusion from a group gathering at the R&A clubhouse. Even Alan’s book, ‘LIV and Let Die’, claimed the same. “He talked to a handful of other [past champions] to get their blessing and then went to the R&A and told them, basically, no one wanted Phil there and it would make the night weird and awkward.”

Now, again, Alan Shipnuck was enquired about the PGAT-LIV rivalry during his recent appearance on the Foreplay podcast. There, he went on to talk about the antagonism between the two golfers. He said, “This is just Tiger against Phil all over again. You know, it’s this perpetuation of this 30-year rivalry… Tiger jumps on the jet and rallies the troops, and he’s this inspirational figure, and you know, Phil’s in the back alleys this shadowy dealmaker, you know, all this subterfuge.”

As the conversation continued, even Rory McIlroy got dragged into the PGA-LIV feud theory.

Rory McIlroy gets dragged into the PGA Tour and LIV Golf drama

As many know, after Tiger Woods, the one name that arguably comes up on the LIV Golf hate list is Rory McIlroy. Neither the LIV compatriots liked the Irishman, nor did Rory like them. In the podcast, Alan Shipnuck talked about Tiger-Phil rivalry as a part of the PGA-LIV feud theory.

As the conversation went on, he also mentioned how the LIV fraternity condemns Rory McIlroy. He said, “The guys on LIV hate Rory because he took so many personal shots at them. And, you know, they really feel like he’s taken the money; it just came from the PGA Tour. You know, he has; he’s embedded in the tour financials.”

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The writer claimed that it was because of this that the four-time major winner’s real motives were put into question. “So is he really so pure of heart that he’s fighting for these ideals? Or is this about protecting his business interests?”

What do you think of the PGAT-LIV rivalry? Let us know in the comments below.

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