With over a dozen LIV players thrown into the mix, the 2023 PGA Championship promises many memorable moments in the coming week. From Brooks Koepka to Patrick Reed to Phil Mickelson, some of the biggest names from the Saudi-funded league have found their way into the 156-players field for the upcoming major.
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However, Mickelson, who returns to the PGA Championship after sitting out last year’s edition, has caused quite a stir with his recent social media activity. The LIV pro may have now deleted his fiery Twitter rant, but golf fans on the app came prepared!
Phil Mickelson’s deleted tweet incites diverse reactions from fans
There is nothing that the internet loves more than racking up and dropping receipts, and 6-time major winner Phil Mickelson is learning it the hard way. In a now-deleted tweet, the golfer voiced his frustrations against the field of the year’s second major.
“PGA uses owgr to get in,” he had written, questioning why LIV pros like Cameron Tringale, Sebastian Munoz, and Jason Kokrak were passed over for lower-ranked PGA Tour player Beau Hossler. After the tweet resurfaced, some fans were quick to call him out.
One fan even thought the golfer was confusing the PGA Tour with the PGA of America, which will be conducting the major. Besides OWGR positions, the organization also has other criteria for determining the event’s field.
Think he realised that the PGA Championship is probably affiliated with the PGA Tour
— martin gill (@martinlukegill) May 11, 2023
PGA “ if you go to that tour you won’t get OWGR points”
LIV Golfers “ I can’t believe we don’t get OWGR points”. My god this is second grade stuff— Robert Hurst (@RobertH93633634) May 12, 2023
his act is so tired.
— Andy Romanow (@AndyRomanow) May 11, 2023
Phil has drank the Kool-aid. What a shame.
— Phil Marshall (@prmpar70) May 11, 2023
In the tweet, the 52-year-old also aimed a jibe at PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, and USGA CEO Mike Whan. Some fans even sided with the golfer. One even opined that Monahan was holding the PGA Tour back.
Also Read: 2 Years After Scripting History, Phil Mickelson, 52, Teases Rewriting the Record Books Yet Again
Another fan noted that Mickelson had some good points up his sleeves. However, they also took a swipe at the golfers’ choice of LIV players.
Phil’s 100% correct and has been for the past year and 3 months. Ppl can hate him for some odd reason and love a guy like Monahan who has held the Tour back and was forced to change. The ppl that suck up to the Tour is mind boggling. Are they paying the media??
— Lance (@ferg520) May 12, 2023
Phil has some decent points but arguing over these players is LOL
— easternmh (@Easternmh) May 13, 2023
After deleting his tweet, Mickelson again took to the app to heap praises on LIV’s Cameron Tringale. The World No. 103rd, who also plays in Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC, has not made it to the field for the PGA Championship this year.
Phil Mickelson vouches for LIV golfer after he fails to qualify for major event
On Wednesday, the PGA of America announced the field for the year’s second major, and it promises to be another action-packed event. But, the absence of a few LIV players has raised many eyebrows, including that of Phil Mickelson.
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Taking to Twitter, the 2-time PGA Championship winner took a stand for fellow LIV player and teammate Cameron Tringale. “He deserves it,” wrote Mickelson about the golfer. Tringale was a part of the PGA Championship field in 2022 but had a forgettable outing, finishing at T41 on the leaderboard. He has also fallen out of the top 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings, as no OWGR points are awarded for performances in LIV tournaments.
Other than Mickelson, 17 other LIV pros will be teeing it off at New York’s Oak Hill Country Club for the impending major. After a good outing at Augusta National last month, the roster of LIV golfers will want to keep the momentum going next week.
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Watch This Story: ‘Worthless’: Golf Fans Give Mixed Reactions Over Phil Mickelson’s Video Ahead of $25,000,000 LIV Event
Do you agree with Mickelson’s sentiments in his recently-deleted tweet? What do you think of LIV’s chances at the PGA Championship? Let us know in the comments!