Phil Mickelson Comments on OWGR While Another LIV Member Doubts PGA Deal Will Be Made

With LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman’s announcement this week that the circuit will no longer seek Official World Golf Ranking points, it appears the league is preparing for the long haul.

That could also mean no agreement with the PGA Tour.

At last check, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan were negotiating to finalize the framework agreement that was made last June. But as time goes by, more and more doubt is cast that a deal will be made.

LIV Golf pro Anirban Lahiri spoke with the Times of India before this week’s Hong Kong tournament:

“From what I’ve heard, it is not a done deal. In fact, I am hearing the opposite. It will be a matter of time as in how all the different organizations move forward. This back and forth just highlights what professional golf has gone through in the last two years.”

What a week in Jeddah for @Crushers_GC 🫡

On a personal note, happy to have contributed the way I did to get the first team win on the year⛳️ #CurryPower pic.twitter.com/GBIPuUqsG3

— Anirban Lahiri (@anirbangolf) March 5, 2024

The split is even more pronounced, with LIV Golf going at it on its own in abandoning hope for a partnership with the OWGR and hoping its players are invited to majors on their own merit.

“It’s all playing out how I thought it would,” said Phil Mickelson from Hong Kong. He added that he provides his statements on X, formerly known as Twitter. Mickelson did refer to his comments in October when LIV’s OWGR application was denied.

Trevor, LIV was NEVER going to get points. Why? 1)it’s a monopoly run by all the governing bodies 2) the PGA Tour tv contract is based on owgr criteria for them to get all their money 3) they would lose leverage in negotiations if LIV got points4) last but not least, Tour has…

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) October 12, 2023

Earlier this year, the PGA Tour did partner with Strategic Sports Group for a cash infusion of up to $3 billion to create PGA Tour Enterprises, which the PIF is not yet a part of.

Cover Image via Heavy.com