PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Many golf stars still want to join the controversial, Saudi-funded LIV Tour. So claims Phil Mickelson, one of the biggest profiles to have already taken the plunge.
– The question is how many places are open. There are significantly more players who want to come than there are vacancies, he says.
After a year of conflicts, a framework between the LIV Tour, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) was concluded in June. The idea is for the three men’s tours to be merged in some way, but no agreement is yet in place and December 31 of this year has been set as the last date to reach an agreement.
Either way, even more will make the leap to the Saudi-funded, and heavily criticized, LIV tour next year. At least if the American is to be believed Phil Mickelsonthe six-time major winner who is the tour’s big poster name.
– If I think it will be like that? No. I know it will happen. When players look at LIV, they see something that they want to be a part of, Mickelson said at a press conference in Miami ahead of the LIV tour’s season finale this weekend, according to AFP.
“I hate LIFE”
Ever since the new tour started last year, the tone has been high and sharp between the different camps.
The Swedish veteran Henrik Stenson is one of those who have accepted the big prize money and joined the LIV tour, which, among other things, cost him the job of captaining Europe’s Ryder Cup team. Others, like the Northern Irish star Rory McIlroyhas been hard on both the tour and the players who chose that path.
– I still hate LIFE. I hate it. I hope it goes away and don’t expect anything else, he said after the announcement that the three major tours are planning to merge.
No ranking points
One obstacle to a possible merger is that it must be approved by the PGA Tour’s board of directors. In it sit player representatives such as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woodswhich has so far belonged to the LIV tour’s biggest opponents.
In addition, the tour was dealt a heavy blow earlier in October when golf’s world ranking organization OWGR ruled that no ranking points are awarded for LIV events. For now, the LIV players are also banned from playing on the PGA Tour, reducing their ability to qualify for majors.
– I think the major competitions have to take care to protect their product, says Phil Mickelson.
– If they want the best possible starting field, they must create opportunities for players on the LIV tour to play majors without having to use the world ranking.
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