Phil Mickelson says ‘there’s a need and demand’ for LIV Golf amid ongoing negotiations with PGA Tour

Phil Mickelson admitted Friday that the tensions betwixt the PGA Tour and LIV Golf person not wholly dissolved, contempt ongoing negotiations betwixt the 2 circuits. 

However, the six-time large victor remained adamant that the rival play league is not going anyplace due to the fact that of what it offers to play fans. 

Ahead of the archetypal tourney of the twelvemonth connected U.S. soil, Mickelson appeared connected "Fox & Friends" Friday greeting to sermon the stark differences betwixt the 2 circuits and how LIV’s unsocial operation taps into a marketplace the PGA Tour has antecedently been incapable to. 

Phil Mickelson of the United States plays a changeable connected the 17th spread during a signifier circular anterior to the U.S. Open astatine Pinehurst Resort connected June 11, 2024 successful Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

"I wouldn’t accidental it's gone," Mickelson said of the tension. "We’re astir increasing the crippled globally, and the PGA Tour has ever been astir increasing the crippled nationally. So if you look astatine it similar that, there’s a batch of disapproval that we instrumentality successful the United States, but if you look globally the mode LIV Golf is received, it’s incredible." 

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The Saudi-backed play league launched successful 2022 and was met with superior backlash aft shaking up the play satellite by drafting distant galore of the Tour’s biggest stars with lucrative signings. 

The fractured narration betwixt the 2 circuits appeared to beryllium connected the mend aft the PGA Tour, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) and the DP World Tour signed a model statement successful June 2023. However, the parties progressive failed to travel to immoderate statement earlier that woody expired astatine the extremity of the year. 

Since then, President Donald Trump has gotten progressive with the extremity of reuniting golf.

President Donald Trump, driven by his lad Eric Trump, arrives astatine Trump National Doral during the LIV Golf Miami tourney connected Thursday, April 3, 2025 successful Miami. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

TRUMP SAYS PGA-LIV 'MERGE' WOULD BE A 'GREAT THING' AS TALKS BETWEEN TOURS CONTINUE

"There’s ever a request for accepted play and accepted contention and the humanities events, but we are not appealing to the younger crowd, historically, until now," Mickelson added. "LIV is appealing to a younger assemblage and making play chill again and enjoyable to watch. And erstwhile you travel retired and watch, you person a overmuch much relaxed consciousness and radical are enjoying that vibe. 

"There’s a request and request for what LIV Golf provides." 

Trump is moving to facilitate negotiations with the PGA Tour and PIF successful the caller commercialized PGA Tour Enterprises. 

Phil Mickelson of Hyflyers GC celebrates a birdie connected the 4th spread connected time 3 of LIV Golf Hong Kong astatine The Hong Kong Golf Club connected March 9, 2025 successful Hong Kong. (Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)

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"Ultimately, hopefully, the 2 tours are going to merge. That’ll beryllium good. I’m progressive successful that too," Trump said Thursday. "But hopefully we’re going to get the 2 tours to merge. You person the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour. And I deliberation having them merge would beryllium a large thing."

The PGA Tour reportedly rejected PIF’s latest bid to put into PGA Tour Enterprises. ESPN reported Friday, citing sources, that the circuit rejected the $1.5 cardinal concern bid. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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