PGA Tour row which split Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth reignited again

The longstanding tensions between Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth are part of a broader PGA Tour dispute surrounding LIV Golf. Mickelson, a vocal supporter of LIV, left the PGA Tour in 2022, which has strained relationships with fellow players, including Spieth, who stayed loyal to the Tour. The recent attempt at reconciliation between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV league has reignited past disagreements, especially among players like Spieth, who is cautious about the merger’s implications.

Both camps remain divided, reflecting unresolved differences within the sport.

The escalating dispute between Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth represents a microcosm of the broader rift in golf due to LIV Golf’s emergence. When Mickelson left the PGA Tour in 2022 to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, he took on a prominent role in promoting the new league, which promised higher payouts and reduced schedules.

This departure angered PGA loyalists, including Spieth, who viewed it as a betrayal of the Tour’s traditions. The LIV-PGA rivalry divided fans and players, with some criticizing LIV for sportswashing due to its Saudi backing, while others applauded it for challenging the PGA’s dominance.

When the PGA Tour announced a tentative framework to merge with LIV, many players, including Spieth, expressed reservations. Spieth, a PGA policy board member, highlighted the importance of handling negotiations carefully, especially since LIV had created an alternative that enticed high-profile players with lucrative contracts. He cautiously acknowledged the need for unity but remained skeptical, stressing transparency and integrity in the process. This deal, though seen as a chance to bridge divisions, hasn’t resolved the core disagreements about the sport’s ethics, competitive standards, and financial structure.

For Mickelson, LIV Golf offered a chance to reshape golf’s business model, with players receiving more control and profits. But for Spieth and other traditionalists, the PGA’s loyalty was paramount, with concerns that LIV’s massive payouts could distort competitive balance and dilute the sport’s longstanding heritage. Spieth’s comments in recent interviews suggest he’s wary of the PIF’s influence on the PGA, wanting a structure that respects golf’s past while also addressing LIV’s appeal.