Phil Mickelson has tense exchange with reporter

Despite the significant financial benefits Phil Mickelson has enjoyed since moving to LIV Golf, his performance on the course hasn’t improved. Mickelson, who has been a strong advocate for LIV Golf, is currently ranked 203rd in the world. This low ranking is partly due to the fact that LIV results are not considered in the official world rankings.

However, Mickelson, a six-time major champion, remains eligible to compete in next week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon as a former winner (2013). During a press conference ahead of LIV Golf Andalucia, a reporter asked Mickelson about his loss at the Open Championship at Troon in 2016, to which Mickelson sarcastically responded, “Sure, I love talking about my losses. Go ahead.”

The exchange grew tense when the reporter inquired, “On that Sunday morning, if somebody told you you were going to get a 65 and not win, what would you have thought?”
Mickelson replied, “I wouldn’t have thought it was right. I thought I played a great final round, well enough to win, and it just wasn’t. Like I said, I played some of my best golf and it wasn’t enough to win, which is the first time I can remember that being the case, and I thought 65 for sure would be enough.”

When the reporter asked if it was his “proudest defeat,” Mickelson, reportedly through gritted teeth, said, “I mean we keep framing my losses in different ways. It’s not making me feel any better either way.”

Mickelson will have the opportunity to redeem himself when The Open Championship returns to Troon next week.