Phil Mickelson opens up on Tiger Woods reunion and passes the buck on LIV Golf merger

Phil Mickelson faced questions about Tiger Woods and the ongoing merger saga involving the PGA Tour and LIV Golf backer the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund at The Open Championship. Mickelson is currently at six-over-par after three rounds.

Mickelson and Woods were seen practicing next to each other at Royal Troon ahead of Friday’s second round. The two, known for their legendary battles, have seen their careers decline recently. Woods missed the cut, finishing 14-over-par after 36 holes, while Mickelson’s five-over was enough to continue into the weekend. When asked about his interaction with Woods, Mickelson said, “We said hi. Yeah, we said hi, but we were both preparing. It’s not like we’re going to sit there and chat.”

The 54-year-old Mickelson, a key figure in the LIV Golf movement, was questioned about the potential for him and Woods, who is a significant figure on the PGA Tour’s transaction committee, to collaborate in mending the professional golf divisions. He responded, “I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll see.” Mickelson emphasized that he is not involved in the merger negotiations and is focused on his own game.

Mickelson recorded a one-over-par third round at Troon, bringing his total to six-over-par, 13 shots behind leader Shane Lowry. Despite not winning since his 2021 PGA Championship victory at Kiawah Island, Mickelson is enjoying his time at Troon, recalling fond memories from past competitions, including his memorable duel with Henrik Stenson in 2016.

“I enjoyed the round,” Mickelson said. “I had fun. I didn’t score the way I wanted to, but I always enjoy playing here. There’s a lot of great memories for me from around this golf course from 2016, and even going back to 2004 when I missed the playoff by a shot. I just really love Troon golf.”