Defiant Phil Mickelson declared the LIV Golf series provides players with an unsurpassed experience despite playing in The Open at the Home of Golf. USA star Mickelson carded an opening par 72 at the Old Course in St Andrews. Mickelson, 52, is banned from the PGA Tour after defecting to the Saudi-back golf league for a £170million payday.
He has since played twice in Greg Norman’s brainchild after teeing it up in London and Portland. He reflected: “I made the right decision for me and I'm excited about having the opportunity to play competitive golf and have it in my life in a more moderate scale.
“I couldn't be happier. I think it's been really good. I can't wait to get to New Jersey and play another event there. The player experience, the experience of those events from a player standpoint is a 10. You can't get it any better.
“I came here in London and people couldn't have been better. We had a great time. Same thing in Oregon. Gosh, the energy and the excitement. It's been great.” Mickelson carded three bogeys and three birdies in his round yesterday.
It was his first main tour appearance since missing the cut at the US Open in June after a break from the game after he described the Saudis as 'scary motherf***ers'. He added: “I had four months off.
“When I came back, I wasn't really sharp. But my game doesn't feel far off at all. It just doesn't. I think I'm going to play really well the next few days.”
Mickleson was noticeably absent from the R&A’s champions dinner on Tuesday night along with LIV chief executive Norman, who was uninvited. Mickelson said: “The R&A contacted me a couple weeks before and said: 'look, we don't think it's a great idea you go, but if you want to, you can'.
“I just didn't want to make a big deal about it, so I said: 'fine'. We both kind of agreed that it would be best if I didn't.”
But Mickelson stressed he wouldn’t be surprised if there is a LIV golfer lifting the Claret Jug on Sunday. He said: “There's a lot of good players here. I think there's a good chance.”
