Phil Mickelson claims PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger ‘isn’t necessary’ despite Saudi Arabia talks

Phil Mickelson claims PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger ‘isn’t necessary’ despite Saudi Arabia talks

LIV Golf star on verge of being dumped by league after taking aim at Tiger Woods

Pat Perez was one of the first players to sign up to the LIV Golf setup back in 2022, but he could be set for a premature exit from the breakaway league as he sits on the brink of relegation

Ex-PGA Tour star Pat Perez didn’t mince his words when criticising Tiger Woods after his switch to LIV Golf. Now, two years later, his stint in the breakaway league could be nearing its end.

Perez chose to ink a deal with the LIV setup following its explosive entrance onto the professional golf scene in 2022, signing a contract reportedly worth $10 million (£7.9 million) with the Saudi-backed series. His move – like many others – was met with criticism for joining forces with Greg Norman and his team.

One of those critics was none other than arguably the greatest golfer of all time, Woods, who questioned the competitive spirit and ‘incentive’ of the LIV setup in its infancy due to its lack of cut and generous payouts for players finishing at the bottom of its leaderboard.

Perez, however, was far from pleased with these comments. “That’s the stupidest —- I have ever heard of in my life. That’s one of the stupidest things I think he has said,” he vented on the Son of a Butch podcast.

Tiger Woods has same gripe with PGA Tour as Lee Westwood as LIV Golf favoured

“The incentive is the fact that last place is $120,000, first place is $4 million. You cannot win $4 million on the PGA Tour.

“Now, next year you might; they finally got the perks. But last time I checked, he signed a $40 million deal right out of college and was flying on the Nike jet. He found incentive. He could have shut it down right then. He had a lot of guarantees. You know what, and he was the hottest thing.

“He’s made so much money off the course, he found incentive to go. But again, he only played how many tournaments. He didn’t go – I never saw him at John Deere, never saw him supporting all these events. He played in the majors, he played in the WGCs and that was it.”

“He played Torrey. Never played Riv. But he’s worth every dime. In fact, like I said, he’s two billion short of where he should be, I think.”

During his stint with the controversial league, Perez tasted victory, clinching the inaugural LIV team championship in 2022 alongside the 4Aces.

Phil Mickelson claims PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger ‘isn’t necessary’ despite Saudi Arabia talks

Dustin Johnson in danger of huge blow as 10 LIV Golf stars at risk of relegation

LIV Golf pair among three big-name stars to watch at U.S. Senior Open

Lee Westwood shuts down LIV Golf question mark after making major return – “That’s rubbish”

U.S. Senior Open star complete historic feat with back-to-back holes-in-one

Phil Mickelson names the three things LIV Golf stars have that PGA Tour rivals want to copy

LIV Golf star Patrick Reed facing failure in bid to exploit loophole and qualify for The Open

PGA Tour Champions rule sparks heated ‘rejects’ debate among golfers

LIV Golf star Sergio Garcia faces date with destiny in desperate bid to qualify for the Open

Why Rory McIlroy and other top golfers aren’t playing at Rocket Mortgage Classic

Tiger Woods stance called into question as PGA Tour legend lets slip private chat

Reason Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and others will miss 2024 Presidents Cup

LIV Golf set sights on poaching iconic US Open course that hosted Jordan Spieth win

Greg Norman slams ‘disgusting hatred’ aimed at LIV Golf stars in staunch defence of Mickelson and co

Dustin Johnson enduring LIV Golf misery as former world No.1 sees nightmare continue

Tiger Woods has same gripe with PGA Tour as Lee Westwood as LIV Golf favoured

Lee Westwood in hunt to end 31-year wait after capitalising on $1m LIV Golf boost

Patrick Reed sets sights on loophole route into The Open amid LIV Golf’s world ranking woes

Rickie Fowler made LIV Golf stance clear after PGA Tour star had no nonsense answer for Greg Norman

Phil Mickelson claims PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger ‘isn’t necessary’ despite Saudi Arabia talks