Phil Mickelson lost his temper at a journalist after once again being questioned on the LIV Golf Series at this week’s Open Championship. Mickelson joined the likes of Dustin Johnson, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Brooks Koepka in making the controversial switch.
Since coming out of his four-month exile last month to confirm his expected LIV Golf move, the American has been fairly happy to talk about the contentious topic. It seems his patience over the constant questioning has finally cracked though at St Andrews this week.
Following his opening round at the Old Course on Thursday, Mickelson told a journalist questioning his LIV Golf association to ‘let it go’.
The 2013 winner made headlines heading into the event, as he made the decision to withdraw from the pre-tournament past-champion celebrations after his LIV Golf boss Greg Norman was banned from the event by the R&A. The celebrations included a four-hole team event on the famous course, along with the annual past-champions dinner.
Speaking on how his non-appearance came around, the six-time major winner 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 [attend].”
Mickelson was then quizzed on whether he was sad to miss out on the tournament week festivities, responding: “No, no. Not at all. I think that I couldn't be more excited and ecstatic with where I'm at.
“I love the events. I get to have golf in my life and competitive golf in my life on a scale that is fun, exciting, different, and lets me play and compete but still do the things outside that I want to do.” The questioning on the matter did not stop there though, as the reporter continued to press Mickelson.
Clearly unhappy with the discussion, he snapped: “Let it go, dude. Let it go. That's three times you've asked the same question. I don't know what to tell you. I couldn't be happier.” From the very beginning, Mickelson has defended his association with the Saudi-backed tour, even after describing the Middle Eastern state as ‘scary mother f*****s’ prior to signing on the dotted line.
Sticking by his LIV Golf guns at St Andrews, he commented: “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 to where I can do some things outside of that too. I freed up a lot of other time as well. 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.”
