Phil Mickelson's PGA Tour apology demand, $1M accusation, message to Donald Trump's DOJ

Irish Daily Star

21-04-2025

Phil Mickelson's ongoing
bitterness with the PGA Tour
continued after Wesley Bryan was suspended for participating in an LIV Golf event.
The Saudi-backed league introduced The Duels earlier this month, a fresh format that
paired six pros with social media stars. Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson,
Mickelson,
and Bryan were among those teeing off
.
Bryan, who has rarely played on the
PGA
Tour recently, joined the fray as a content creator with a booming YouTube channel. Despite not actually holding a PGA Tour card, he was suspended by the organisation.
A furious Mickelson took his grievance to the next level by
involving Donald Trump's Department of Justice.
He posted on social media: "Here's a question. Normally when an entity violates independent contract law, they deny that it happened and forces the contractor/individual to prove that it did.
"In this case the PGA Tour blatantly admits they are illegally banning an independent contractor, so why doesn't they DOJ step in and enforce the law? Why does the individual have to sue to enforcer the law? DOJ do your f****** job!".
The issue adds to the long list of criticisms Mickelson has hurled at the PGA Tour, which dates back to before he even left for LIV Golf...
Mickelson was left furious by Wesley Bryan's suspension
(Image: Getty)
'
Gree
dy'
accusation
Speaking to Golf Digest in early 2022, Mickelson branded the PGA Tour "greedy" as he aired his long-held unhappiness over media rights. He said: "There are many issues, but that is one of the biggest.
"For me, personally, it's not enough that they are sitting on hundreds of millions of digital moments. They also have access to my shots, access I do not have.
"They also charge companies to use shots I have hit. And when I did 'The Match' - there have been five of them - the tour forced me to pay them $1 million each time. For my own media rights. That type of greed is, to me, beyond obnoxious."
In the same interview, he claimed the Tour were in charge of "roughly $20 billion" in media assets and "hundreds of millions of digital moments" that should belong to the players.
Mickelson was complaining about the PGA Tour even before leaving for LIV
(Image:)
The PGA Tour hit back, challenging the accuracy of Mickelson's statements, with an unnamed executive telling GOLF.com that the majority of players were content. They said: "I've never seen anybody be really interested in how we generate the money.
"There's some conversation about it now because, you know, Phil's making stuff up that's just not true. But in general, they're happy that there's a lot of money that comes from it."
Rebutting Mickelson's assertions on player revenues, the Tour disclosed that the players receive a significant portion of its earnings, aligning with other major sports organizations: more than 50 per cent of its annual revenue approximating $1.5BN is allocated to the players.
Monahan slammed
Mickelson has been open about his thoughts on Jay Monahan. In November 2023, he reacted to speculation that the PGA Tour commissioner would be removed from his post if and when a deal between the Tour and LIV's backers was finalised.
Mickelson declared on social media that "golf is in this situation entirely because of [Monahan]." He also said that the Tour boss was "losing trust with his players" and that "there's no unity or path forward with [Monahan] involved in my opinion as well."
Jay Monahan has been slammed by Mickelson
(Image: Getty)
'$1billion peace offer'
Mickelson went on to disclose details about a proposed $1BN for "eight elevated events" which he had put to the Tour prior to jumping ship to LIV Golf. He detailed: "Before I left I brought a $1 billion commitment from a current PGA Tour partner to have 8 elevated events and give equity and ownership in these events to the players. JM's quote was: 'I don't believe the league is going to happen so we won't be doing that'. No vote, no discussion."
Apology demand
A year into
golf's
civil war, Mickelson insisted he and other LIV players should receive an apology from the PGA Tour. This followed a leaked memo insinuating that Mickelson and his fellow outspoken dissenters would receive harsher treatment than other defectors - should they return to the tour.
Mickelson said: "What a colossal waste of time. Not a single player on LIV wants to play PGA Tour. It would require a public apology and restitution to LIV players for paying millions to Clout media to disparage all of us. A better topic is future sanctions for the many players who now come to LIV."
Tiger Woods snub
With tensions between the tours reaching a peak in the summer of 2022, Tiger Woods reportedly blocked Mickelson from a private dinner for past champions before the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews.
The bombshell was dropped in Alan Shipnuck's book, 'LIV and Let Die'. An unnamed source claimed: "He [Woods] talked to a handful of other [past champions] to get their blessing and then went to the R&A and told them, basically, no one wanted Phil there and it would make the night weird and awkward. Whose side were they going to take, Tiger's or Phil's? That's an easy choice."
Tiger Woods allegedly blocked Mickelson from a private dinner at The Open
(Image: PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Still talking up LIV
Mickelson continues to champion LIV Golf as the sport's future. Earlier this year, he praised the family-friendly atmosphere on The Joe Pomp Show. He said: "You go to a LIV event, you feel different.
"Here's why: You have music going when you're out on the course. We don't hear little people saying stuff."
"So you're not as anxious about having your kids be quiet. There's a fan zone like on the course where you can sit down, take a break, grab some drinks. It's like a little hang. You can take a nap.
"They have a kid zone by the clubhouse where, again, you can take a nap, play putt-putt, play games for them and entertain them with a big screen so you can still see what's going on with the golf.
"So when you go there, you feel calm. You feel comfortable. It's like, 'OK, our kids had a great time. I was relaxed. I wasn't worried'. I think that's the number one reason why LIV is going to be successful."