Phil Mickelson has warned the PGA Tour that there will ‘inevitably’ be another exodus of people tournament play to the LIV Golf League, regardless of ongoing merger talks. with the Public Investment Fund (PIF). And Ian Poulter believes the same will apply to the DP World Tour.
So much for the truce. The discomfort is indescribable. In the “framework agreement” that surprised everyone when it was announced in June, there was a clause agreed between PIF – LIV’s Saudi sponsor – and the two Towers that, while negotiations ongoing negotiations, LIV will no longer try to attract superstars. , and won’t even try to “get” their signature.
However, this provision was quietly repealed by stakeholders a month later when the US Department of Justice expressed concerns on anti-competitive grounds. That means LIV is essentially free to continue its pleas and thus add to a list that includes Cam Smith, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Mickelson himself.
And the latter is confident the breakaway league will do just that after the 2023 season ends here in the $50 million team finale at Trump Doral on Sunday.
“LIV must continue to grow,” Mickelson said. “But we’ve only been around for about a year and a half and look at the quality of players we have now. And it will continue to improve next year and it will continue to improve the year after that.
So does he think more players will jump ship? “Do I think so?” he told Telegraph Sport. “No. I KNOW it will happen. When players watch LIV, they want to be a part of it. Everyone here is happy and enjoys what we do and enjoys the team, camaraderie aspect intimacy and all the benefits derived from this tour.
“The reality is I’ve been fielding calls, as we all have, from players who are free agents to PGA Tour players who want to come. So the question is how many places are available? There are more players wanting to go than there are places. »
But what about the ongoing discussions to unify the men’s professional league? “I think these merger talks will facilitate and open the door for that,” Mickelson replied.
The six-time major winner’s latest victory will at least be something new for the DP World Tour. LIV’s qualifying event in Abu Dhabi in December – will see three golfers earn a place on the 2024 list – and it will be the first real test of the supposed new harmony, as it takes place the same week as the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
This means any Tour members will need to be released from the Wentworth seat and if there is no formal agreement with the PIF, and with all the legal battles of the past 18 months, Keith Pelley difficult to accept. The Tour’s chief executive has imposed a £100,000 fine and a one-tournament ban on all players who appeared without permission at a LIV Series event in June 2022, and despite the penalty is not strict in this case and it could be even stricter. , there will almost certainly be re-indictments.
Poulter certainly doesn’t expect to get the green light, but he still thinks there will be “a lot of interest.” “I won’t name names but we have been in contact about the players.
“And that’s no surprise. Think about it, they’ll probably get fined, but if a player takes that chance, pays say $50,000 or whatever, then he makes it into the top three then he will earn minimum $1.75 million in 14 events in 2024. That’s minimum. Even if they shoot level 80s every week.
It’s $20 million purses and then the prizes from the team events on top and you’re playing against the likes of Brooks, DJ, Cam, Talor [Gooch] every week? If you’re on the DP World Tour then you’d be mad not to back yourself and have a go. It’s a different level.”
The pervading wisdom is that it could remain a different entity, as well. It is widely accepted that not only will the negotiations be concluded in time for the December 31 deadline and then be extended, but also that LIV’s 2024 schedule will go ahead.
With billionaire US investors reportedly ready to back the PGA Tour, the possibility of an ultimate breakdown in the mooted marriage with the Saudis looms ever larger. In that case, Mickelson and Poulter are clearly of the mind that LIV would be just getting started.
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