Phil Mickelson says improved LIV roster ‘going to happen’،
Phil Mickelson said Wednesday that a revised deal “kind of opens the door” for other PGA Tour players to join the LIV Golf League, with the six-time major champion hinting that the breakaway league’s roster “is going to s ‘improve next year.
“Do I think that? No. I know it’s going to happen,” Mickelson said during a news conference at Trump National Doral Golf Club outside Miami, site of the team championship This weekend’s LIV Golf League. “When players watch LIV, they want to be a part of it. Everyone here is happy and enjoying what we do and enjoying the team aspect, enjoying each other, the camaraderie and enjoying playing golf in the world whole package and all the benefits that come with this tour.
“A lot of players see this and want to be a part of it. The question is how many places are available? There are a lot more players who want to come than there are places.”
The framework agreement that the PGA Tour reached with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the DP World Tour on June 6 included a provision that the LIV Golf League would stop recruiting players from other tours. However, this provision was later removed from the agreement due to pressure from the antitrust division of the US Department of Justice.
There should be at least three spots open – and maybe a few more – for players to join the LIV Golf League in 2024.
In a letter sent to LIV Golf Commissioner Greg Norman and Chief Operating Officer Gary Davidson on October 10, Official World Golf Ranking Chairman Peter Dawson said the LIV Golf Board of Directors The OWGR had unanimously rejected LIV Golf’s bid for world ranking points, partly because the circuit was too much of a closed workshop.
In the letter, Dawson said LIV Golf League officials told the board that 14 players would be guaranteed one of 48 roster spots for 2024, regardless of their performance this season. The top 24 in the season-long points race will be able to return next season.
According to the letter, LIV Golf League officials confirmed to OWGR that only four new players will join the league in 2024 – three from an upcoming promotional event and one, Andy Ogletree, from the Asian Tour International Series . Dawson wrote that LIV Golf League officials “anticipated a higher turnover rate.”
Chase Koepka, James Piot, Jed Morgan and Sihwan Kim are on the verge of being relegated from the league due to their results in the individual points race. They can return to the league by finishing top three in the promotion tournament later this year.
HyFlyers GC captain Mickelson was asked about Piot, the 2021 U.S. Amateur winner, reclaiming his spot on the team.
“The reality is I’ve fielded calls, as we all have, from players who are agents to PGA Tour players to DP World Tour players who want to come,” Mickelson said . “It will probably be filled by the qualifying tournament. If I’m just telling the truth, that’s a very real possibility.”
Mickelson also joined Bryson DeChambeau in calling on all four major championships to create new pathways for LIV Golf League golfers to compete in the sport’s biggest events.
“I think the majors need to protect their products, and there are probably other ways to do that by creating slots,” Mickelson said. “If they want to make sure they have the best golf courses, they could create vehicles that allow LIV players to play in major tournaments where they don’t need to use OWGR, which would hurt to the television contract and PGA Tour revenue. if they gave points to LIV.”
