Phil Mickelson isn’t afraid to speak his mind. But on Thursday at the pre-tournament press conference ahead of the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship at Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas, a pair of one-word answers from Lefty painted an incomplete picture.
LIV Golf’s third season will come to a close Sunday, and then the league will enter the offseason before going international to begin its 2025 campaign. As for what’s next for the league? Other than the early-season schedule release, not many details have been released.
Perhaps it’s because the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV Golf, are still working on a deal to bring the top players from both tours back together. Or it could be because the initial momentum LIV Golf had after its first two years has slowed.
Not according to Mickelson.
The last two offseasons, LIV Golf has signed former major champions, the biggest being Jon Rahm last December, who went on to win the league’s individual championship last week at LIV Golf Chicago. On Thursday, Mickelson was asked whether he has heard from players outside of LIV Golf who remain interested in the league.
“Yes.”
A follow-up question was asked: “Do you want to expand on that any?”
“No.”
Two questions, a pair of one-word answers and the result is left trying to figure out what it all means.
Perhaps Mickelson is speaking to players about possibly joining the league. But unlike in year’s past, there’s hardly any chatter going on about folks who could move defect from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. Or maybe LIV is in a holding pattern, waiting to see what’s next for professional golf, like the rest of us.
Based on other questions and answers Thursday from Mickelson and other LIV Golf captains, the league is moving forward like business as usual. There were even some hints at more team-only events in the future, similar to this week in Dallas.
But as always, Lefty’s choice to not talk about conversations he has had will leave people guessing. Is it a smokescreen, or is LIV Golf preparing for another major offseason splash?
Only time will tell.
