Phil Mickelson Explains Why LIV Isn't Going Away: 'That's What the Talk Is. It's Ridiculous'

Mickelson joined the Pat McAfee show on Wednesday and shared thoughts on Jon Rahm, LIV Golf and the future of the game.

Phil Mickelson said again that LIV Golf is here to stay, and this time he brought strong evidence to support his opinion. 

On Wednesday, the three-time Masters champion joined the Pat McAfee show on ESPN and explained why Jon Rahm’s recent signing with the Saudi-funded league is a clear sign that LIV isn’t going anywhere.

Mickelson, a fellow Arizona State alum and close friend of Rahm’s, said that Rahm’s decision created a “bridge” for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to forge a path towards unification. 

Although Mickelson reminded viewers that he is not involved with the ongoing PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment fund negotiations, he is certain that Rahm's move altered those conversations. 

“With Jon Rahm signing on, what it’s done is create a bridge and an opportunity for us to come together,” Mickelson explained. “Because the realization is, LIV isn’t going away. That’s what the talk is. It’s ridiculous.”

Mickelson said Rahm’s move to LIV should prompt organizations to rethink their vision for the future of pro golf—including the four major championships and the PGA Tour. 

“If we’re the majors and we want to have the best field and keep on the tradition of these great events, we’re going to have to have the best players in the world and create a qualifying system for these players to get there,” Mickelson continued. “If you’re the PGA Tour and you realize that your most important asset is the quality of field and your players, and you are going to keep losing players if you don’t work together—this is a bridge that is now opening those conversations to start working together.”

"I don't have a lot of answers on where they are with the PGA and LIV merger..

Jon Rahm signing on has really created a bridge for us to come together" @PhilMickelson #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/FKCPjosL06

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 10, 2024

Mickelson also discussed Rory McIlroy’s recent comments on a soccer podcast, where he admitted to being “too judgmental” of LIV Golf at the start. McIlroy has also been adamant that Rahm should be included on the 2025 European Ryder Cup team, despite his decision to join the Saudi-backed league. (To be eligible for the European Ryder Cup team, players must be active members of the DP World Tour.)

“I thought it was a very big move on Rory’s part in a couple of things that he said. One was that ‘we don’t want to go forward in the Ryder Cup without Jon Rahm.’ That’s a big step. It’s a total turn from ‘these guys made their bed and lied with it.’ It’s a coming together. He opened the door for us to work together.

"In addition to the comments about how there’s a place in golf for LIV, and for team events and so forth. There’s always going to be a need for traditional golf and there’s a desire for it. These tournaments have been around for a long, long time, they have great history and great reverence. But that’s also led to an increasing age demographic in our fan base. We’ve got to also attract the younger players. There’s a place for LIV as well. There’s a place for a more fun, edgy and louder presentation in golf, and that’s what we’re trying to do. They both should be working together for the greater good," Mickelson said.

In addition to Rahm, McIlroy and the LIV model, Mickelson discussed LIV’s Las Vegas event that will coincide with Super Bowl week and the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy. Watch it in its entirety here.