Phil Mickelson is one of the biggest stars on the LIV Golf league, in spite of the fact that his best days are in his rearview mirror.
Mickelson is a genuine superstar in the game, and he is still a huge draw for LIV Golf.
In fact, Mickelson is said to have played a key role in attracting other top players to join LIV, including his close friend, Jon Rahm.
The 55-year-old is a fierce advocate of the Saudi-backed golf league and has full faith in its potential.
Mickelson is a hugely popular figure among the players on LIV, and he is clearly thriving in the tightly-knit environment of the golf league which is still very much in its infancy.
However, in order for LIV Golf to really make some genuine progress, they need to obtain world ranking points, and fast.
As things stand, they seem to be nowhere nearer achieving that than they were three years ago. So let’s take a look back at what Mickelson said about the issue in 2023.
Phil Mickelson’s four reasons why LIV Golf will ‘never’ get world ranking points
Mickelson has been the most outspoken LIV Golfer since jumping ship from the PGA Tour in 2022.
He has made some incredibly bold claims about the Saudi-backed golf league over the past few years.
Back in May, Mickelson suggested that the LIV Golf team format is better than the Ryder Cup. Make of that what you will.
It’s no secret that the six-time major champion is one of the leading cheerleaders for LIV, and he was one of the pioneers behind the league’s formation in 2022.
Back in 2023, Mickelson made it very clear why he believes LIV will never receive world ranking points.
In response to a post from Trevor Immelman about LIV’s failure to be recognized by the Official Golf World Ranking system, Mickelson shared his thoughts.
He said: “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 BORROWED against the tv deal! If they don’t hit their bench marks and don’t get all their TV money (from CBS) they will have an immediate capital call.
“Don’t believe me? Ask Sean McManus (head of CBS Sports).“
Jon Rahm pushing for rule change which could help LIV gain world ranking points
Back in July, LIV submitted a new application to obtain world ranking points but as things stand, nothing is changing.
One of the key sticking points seems to be the fact that LIV’s tournaments are played over 54 holes.
Jon Rahm is believed to be pushing for 72-hole events on LIV, and if that ever happens, they will be in a far stronger position to receive world ranking points, based on the fact that the thousands of professional golfers in the system must be ranked equitably.
It’s unfair for players on certain tours to be competing for 72 holes while LIV golfers are playing only 54-hole events.
However, it cannot be argued that LIV have two of the best golfers in the world among their ranks in the form of the aforementioned Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.
Interestingly, Xander Schauffele’s father recently highlighted LIV’s lack of world ranking points as one of the key reasons why his son rejected a $150 million offer from the Saudi-backed outfit.
The Times reported earlier this year: “Schauffele senior confirmed LIV Golf offered his son more than $150m to join the PIF-backed breakaway. LIV could have doubled that figure and the answer would have still been ‘no’, he said. The lack of world ranking points and being potentially frozen out of the major championships wasn’t worth it.“
It’s clear to see that if LIV Golf are to ever fulfil their ambitions, obtaining world ranking points will be absolutely crucial.
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