Phil Mickelson is Now Defending Rory McIlroy and Calling for End of Hostilities

While it may have been surprising to many golf fans to read that Rory McIlroy felt he was “too judgmental” on players who jumped to LIV Golf in 2022, the following news may be even more surprising.

Phil Mickelson is backing McIlroy.

Mickelson, the OG defector to LIV, applauded the high-profile golfer he feuded with last year after Wednesday’s comments.

This quote and the many others made today by Rory probably weren’t easy to say. Let’s not use this as an opportunity to pile on. Rather, It’s time for me and others to let go of our hostilities and work towards a positive future. Rahms’ signing is turning into a bridge to bring… https://t.co/KG2wifcWvT

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) January 4, 2024

“This quote and the many others made today by Rory probably weren’t easy to say,” Mickelson wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Let’s not use this as an opportunity to pile on. Rather, it’s time for me and others to let go of our hostilities and work towards a positive future.”

McIlroy, who said last summer that Mickelson could “bet on the Ryder Cup this year, because he won’t be a part of it,” was one of the harshest critics of LIV, but his stance began to soften in the fall.

It changed for good after Jon Rahm’s deal with LIV was announced. McIlroy said that he hoped the Ryder Cup rules would be changed so that the Spaniard would still be able to participate.

Mickelson, who said after The Masters that no team in LIV would want McIlroy because “they’d have to deal with his BS,” acknowledged that Rahm’s signing had a big influence in how the league is viewed – along with the potential deal among the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

“Until an agreement is reached, it will business as usual for both sides but hopefully without the needless disdain,” Mickelson concluded in his post on X.

It was announced on New Year’s Eve that the PGA Tour and PIF remain engaged in negotiations to finalize June’s framework agreement for a partnership to create a for-profit golf company.

Cover Image via X