LIV Golf’s Phil Mickelson liked a popular Mr. Bean meme to mock the PGA Tour.
The 52-year-old was one of the biggest names in the game to defect to the lucrative Saudi-backed circuit last year. Since then shots have been fired back and forth between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf members, as the battle between both tours rages on.
The PGA have made the latest moves as commissioner Jay Monahan announced a revamp of some of its biggest events outside the majors. The shake-up to the tournaments, known as elevated events, will see the field sizes reduced to 70-78 players and the absence of a 36-hole cut with a designated £16m purse.
Mickleson, who has been following the progress of his rivals, appeared to take aim by liking a Twitter post of an image featuring popular TV character Mr. Bean, who was portrayed as the PGA Tour, copying a classmate labelled as LIV Golf in an exam. Just last month, the American claimed the LIV would dominate the PGA if players battled each other in a blockbuster team event.
In a tweet posted by account, @flushingitgolf, a possible monumental team event was suggested and tipped to be 'the most watched golf event in history.' Mickelson latched onto the social media discussion and insisted the idea would not be coming to fruition anytime soon, due the 'domination' the LIV roster would inflict.
“It sounds great, but we would dominate them so soundly and it would be over so quick that tv would have to fill an hour of dead time. That's why it's not happening at this time," he claimed. Much like what Mickelson alluded to by acknowledging the Mr. Bean meme on twitter, LIV compatriot Ian Poulter claimed the PGA copied their format with the changes they implemented this week.
The Brit tweeted a saying from Irish playwrighter George Bernard Shaw, which many could perceive as a slight dig at the PGA. “Imitation is not just the sincerest form of flattery - it’s the sincerest form of learning,” the picture read.
The Englishman also couldn’t resist firing a shot at those who criticised LIV for some of their moves he claims are similar to those now being introduced by the PGA Tour.
“Sounds very similar to another product that’s been spoken so badly about by Media and commentators. I’m all ears now,” Poulter said. “Can’t wait to hear all the back tracking of comments from the last 7 months”.
Poulter also feels that some of the criticism of LIV Golf also now needs to be applied to the PGA Tour.
