Phil Mickelson Has Strong Comments on LIV Golf Amid PGA Tour Season
Phil Mickelson, now 54, has enjoyed an extraordinary career with 57 professional victories, including 45 on the PGA Tour, which ties him for eighth all-time. He also has won six major championships. But in many ways, his decision to join LIV Golf may be the most significant pivot in his professional life.
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The former Arizona State Sun Devils standout turned pro in 1992 and remains one of the sport's most influential voices. He embraced the LIV Golf format and continues to be one of its strongest advocates.
In a recent interview with Golf Digest's Jamie Kennedy, Mickelson shared passionate thoughts on the state of LIV Golf and its progress.
"Phil was asked yesterday about his current assessment of where LIV Golf is," Kennedy posted. "Here's his full 2.5 minute answer."
When asked about his assessment of the LIV Golf landscape, Mickelson didn't hold back.
'I think that LIV has made some incredible strides in getting to where we want this to be. It will get there. I don't know the exact timeline. That is, we want all the best players in the world to be able to compete against each other more often and on a global scale.'
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He continued, contrasting LIV with the traditional PGA Tour model he followed for decades:
'The model I was part of for decades just didn't allow for that. We rarely played each other. We never had elevated events. Outside of the majors, we didn't all compete against each other. And we couldn't move the tour internationally. That's frustrating—for sponsors, for fans who are paying for events and television coverage and don't know what they're getting. When fans don't get to see the best players, that's tough. LIV's model is what the sport needs to succeed.'
Mickelson pointed to recent events as proof that LIV is setting the right course:
'We saw it even at last week's signature event. Players will do what's best for them unless contractually obligated, just like in the NFL or MLB. That model, when brought to LIV, has helped make professional golf a global sport.'
Phil Mickelson at the Masters Tournament.© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Mickelson will compete in the upcoming U.S. Open, which marks the fifth and final year of the exemption he earned when he won the 2021 PGA Championship. It could be his last opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam, as the U.S. Open is the only major he hasn't won.
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His recent record at the U.S. Open has been rough. He has missed the cut three years in a row. The last time he made the cut was in 2021, when he tied for 62nd. His best shot came in 2013, when he tied for second — the most recent of six runner-up finishes at the event.
Whether he can add one more legendary moment to his Hall of Fame career remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Mickelson is betting big on LIV, and he's not looking back.
Related: Scottie Scheffler Earns New Nickname After 16th PGA Tour Win
Related: Rory McIlroy Sends Strong Message to Scottie Scheffler After 16th PGA Tour Win
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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BMW Championship leaderboard, highlights: Robert MacIntyre in control after three rounds
There are 54 holes in the books at the 2025 BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland. Robert MacIntyre is holding on to a four-shot lead after turning in a 2-under 68 on Saturday to go along with blistering rounds of 62 and 64 on Thursday and Friday. Despite not having his best stuff tee-to-green, MacIntyre held off Scottie Scheffler throughout the day. The World No. 1 cut the lead to three shots a few times but failed to get any closer than that as MacIntyre made several fantastic par saves to keep Scheffler at bay. Still, though, Scheffler is in position to make a charge Sunday and put some pressure on MacIntyre, who's seeking his first PGA Tour win of the 2025 season and the third of his career. Those two will play together again in the final round. Meanwhile, it's crunch time for many players on the bubble for the Tour Championship — the final of three legs in the 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs. The top 30 players in the season-long standings after the action wraps up at the BMW will advance to East Lake next week. Rickie Fowler, Chris Gotterup and Sungjae Im, among many others, are part of the group that will be battling for a spot in the top 30 on Sunday. Read below for updates, scores, highlights and more from the Saturday's third round of the 2025 BMW Championship. 2025 BMW Championship leaderboard Keep tabs on every score being carded at Caves Valley with our live BMW Championship leaderboard. Here's what it looked like at the top at the conclusion of Saturday's third round. POS PLAYER SCORE THRU 1 R. MacIntyre -16 F 2 S. Scheffler -12 F 3 L. Aberg -10 F T4 S. Burns -8 F T4 H. Hall -8 F Robert MacIntyre drains birdie bomb on No. 18 to take four-shot lead into Sunday What a finish for the 29-year-old from Scotland. Robert MacIntyre's day started with a bogey and ended with this incredible birdie putt to cap off a 2-under 68 in the third round and enter Sunday at 16 under for the tournament, four shots clear of World. No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. It was a gutsy performance from MacIntyre, who did not have his best stuff in terms of ball striking but made up for it with some elite scrambling. He made birdies on Nos. 4, 9 and 18 while saving unlikely pars on several occasions. Per PGA Tour official stats, MacIntyre was 4-of-5 scrambling. He now enters Sunday in prime position to secure his third career win on the PGA Tour. Both of his previous victories came last year at the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open and the 2024 RBC Canadian Open. As MacIntyre made par save after par save Saturday, it felt as if everyone was just waiting for the moment that Scheffler would pounce and put some serious pressure on the leader, but it never really happened. Scheffler cut the lead to three a few times, but he wasn't as sharp as we've grown accustomed to seeing from him, uncharacteristically finding the sand several times on the back nine and leaving himself with long birdie looks. Still, even without his A-game, or even B-game, for that matter, Scheffler signed for a 3-under 67 to remain within striking distance heading to the final round. Ludvig Aberg makes birdie on 18 to move into solo third Ludvig Aberg is in contention entering Sunday. The 25-year-old Swede fired a 2-under 68 in the third round, which included a birdie on the last, to get to solo third at 10 under for the tournament. He's five shots off Robert MacIntyre's lead and two shots clear of a tie for fourth between Sam Burns and Harry Hall as of 5:50 p.m. ET. It's certainly an outside chance giving Bobby Mac's current advantage, but Aberg will go into Sunday with an opportunity to post a low score and potentially nab his second win on the PGA Tour this season. Regardless, it's a great sign for any European Ryder Cup fans out there, as Aberg is certain to be headed to Bethpage next month. At No. 13 in the FedEx Cup standings, he's also a lock for next week's Tour Championship. Robert MacIntyre dazzles with bunker shot leading to par save Just a beauty here from the solo leader. He tapped in for par on No. 15. Rory McIlroy shoots 71 in the third round at the BMW Championship Rory McIlroy turned in a rollercoaster round that featured four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey. The World No. 2 ended up signing for 1-over 71 and sits in a tie for 14th at 3 under as of 5:25 p.m. ET on Saturday. At No. 2 in the FedEx Cup Standings, McIlroy is guaranteed to move onto the Tour Championship at East Lake next week — an event he's won three times before. Robert MacIntyre sinks par putt and stares down fan The NBC broadcast said a fan yelled "You pushed it!" right as Robert MacIntyre hit his par putt on the par-4 14th. He didn't push it, and instead drained it before looking back at said fan, pointing, and giving him a "shush." Needless to say, Bobby Mac was none to pleased with the patron's remarks. On the same hole, though, Scottie Scheffler sunk an 18-footer for birdie to cut MacIntyre's lead back to three as of 5:15 p.m. ET. Ryder Cup hopefuls putting on strong performances at BMW Championship There are several players on the fringe of making their respective Ryder Cup teams who are having a solid day at the BMW Championship. Americans Maverick McNealy and Sam Burns — both of whom are trying to impress U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley — are tied for fourth at 8 under as of 4:45 p.m. ET. McNealy and Burns entered this week at No. 11 and 16 in the Ryder Cup standings, respectively. Joining them in that tie for fourth is Englishman Harry Hall, who went viral the other day when he said he hasn't even been fitted for a Ryder Cup uniform (which is customary for anyone being considered) despite the fact that, according to Data Golf, he's the fifth-best European player over the last three months. Could he make a statement Sunday and give Euro Captain Luke Donald something to think about? Read more about Hall's case for the Ryder Cup from Golfweek's Adam Schupak. Scottie Scheffler is not going away Did anyone think he would? The World No. 1 rolled in this 14-foot birdie putt to get to 3 under for the day and 12 under for the tournament, three shots off Robert MacIntyre's lead as of 4:30 p.m. ET. Scheffler is bogey-free through 11 holes in the third round. Rickie Fowler trying to punch his ticket to East Lake This season has seen fan-favorite Rickie Fowler return to relevancy on the PGA Tour, and he's making the most of it down the stretch. You'd be hard pressed to find too many guys playing as good of golf as Rickie over the past few weeks (maybe it's the playoff beard?). He barely made it into the top 70 for the FedEx St. Jude and played his way into 48th place in the standings to qualify for this week's BMW. Now, he sits in 33rd with a few holes left in his third round. Fowler needs a sixth-place finish or better to advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake. As of 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, he's part of a four-way tie for seventh with Viktor Hovland, Michael Kim and Tommy Fleetwood. It's going to be another battle for Fowler on Sunday. It's a two-horse race at the BMW Championship Robert MacIntyre made birdie on No. 9 to get to 15 under for the first time and get his lead over Scottie Scheffler back to four. Not only is he up big in that regard, but Scheffler is the only player within six strokes of MacIntyre as they make the turn just before 4 p.m. ET Saturday. It's been a largely quiet day from most of the field, with players like Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Mastuyama and Tommy Fleetwood unable to make any sort of big move up the leaderboard, leaving MacIntyre and Scheffler to duel it out. With 27 holes to go, this tournament is Bobby Mac's to lose. Scottie Scheffler cuts Robert MacIntyre's lead to 3 It was five to start the day. Now, it's just three. Another uncharacteristic birdie miss from short range led to a somewhat disappointing par for solo leader Robert MacIntyre at the 7th, where Scottie Scheffler threw a dart to just three feet and tapped in for birdie. Scheffler is now 2 under for the day and 11 under for the tournament, three shots behind MacIntyre. The pressure is mounting on Bobby Mac to get something going after a less-than-ideal start to Saturday's third round. Robert MacIntyre makes two big par saves to maintain comfortable lead Bobby Mac yanked his tee shot on the reachable par-4 5th into the native penalty area to the left of the green but managed to find his ball and hit the green with his second. He had 72 feet for birdie, lagged it to eight feet and drained the par putt. On the very next hole — the par-3 6th — he made a six-footer to save par. It's definitely shaky for MacIntyre right now. He doesn't look nearly as sharp as he did the first two days. That said, he's scrambling like a madman and his putter has remained hot, keeping the field at bay for now. As of 3:15 p.m. ET, his lead is still four over Scottie Scheffler, who sits in second place at 10 under. Scottie Scheffler birdies No. 4 ... but so does Robert MacIntyre It looked as if World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler might really be ramping up the pressure on the leader when he hit the green in two on the par-5 4th and two-putted for birdie. But Robert MacIntyre did the same, hitting a beautiful lag putt from 75 feet to give himself a tap-in birdie. His lead remains four as of 2:45 p.m. ET. Robert MacIntyre stumbles out of the gate in the third round Robert MacIntyre entered the day five shots clear of the field, but he's already seen his lead shrink a bit. He made bogey on the par-4 first hole to set him back to 13 under before missing a quite easy look at birdie on No. 2. His playing partner, Scottie Scheffler, made two pars to start his day and sits in solo second place, four shots behind MacIntyre and one shot ahead of a tie for third between Maverick McNealy and Ludvig Aberg at 8 under. Akshay Bhatia makes hole-in-one on No. 17 Akshay Bhatia. Have a day, young man. The 23-year-old from California holed out for eagle on the par-4 7th and that wasn't even his best shot of the day. He aced the 227-yard par-3 17th to cap off wild round of 4-under 66. It was his first hole-in-one on the PGA Tour. Read more about Bhatia's wild day. Rory McIlroy makes double bogey to start his third round After a pedestrian opening round of even-par 70, Rory McIlroy started heating up late Friday when he made two birdies and an eagle on the back nine en route to a 66 in the second round. That momentum did not carry over into Saturday, apparently. McIlroy's first tee shot on Saturday found the fairway bunker on the par-4 1st. He missed the green with his second shot and proceeded to three-putt from 12 feet for a double bogey. McIlroy is comfortably and safely inside the top 30 at No. 2 in the FedEx Cup Standings, so he'll play at East Lake next week regardless of what happens today and tomorrow. But still, not a great start for the reigning Masters champ. McIlroy is paired with American Russell Henley, who will be his adversary in just over a month at the 2025 Ryder Cup. 'Bubble boy' Akshay Bhatia off to hot start Saturday at the BMW Championship Akshay Bhatia entered the week No. 29 in the FedEx Cup Standings. Now he's No. 30, right on the cutoff line and in need of a really solid showing this weekend to punch his ticket to next week's Tour Championship at East Lake. So far, so good. Bhatia started his day with a bogey on No. 1 but then birdied No. 4 before holing out for eagle on the par-4 7th from 93 yards away. He made birdie on No. 8, too, and made the turn in 3-under 32. Third round of BMW Championship is underway The third round of the BMW Championship is underway, with Ryan Gerard being the first golfer to tee off. Gerard has some ground to make up to make the Tour Championship as he sits 33rd in the FedEx Standings and begins the round at 11-over. The top 30 golfers advance to the next round. Thomas Detry's horrific start puts him in hot water Thomas Detry entered the BMW Championship with a clear path to the Tour Championship. Detry opened the week at No. 36, meaning he needed a high finish to get into the field of 30 at East Lake. Rounds of 73 and 74 at Caves Valley didn't help his cause, but his start to Saturday's third round might really have put the nail in Detry's coffin. On his opening drive of the third round, Detry pulled it left and was forced to take a penalty. He wound up making double to fall to 9 over for the tournament. But then on the second hole, he found more trouble, pulling his approach into the native area. The result was a second double bogey to open the round, pushing Detry down to 11 over par and well outside the cut for the Tour Championship. Final pairing on Saturday will be Robert MacIntyre, Scottie Scheffler The duo of MacIntyre and Scheffler will be on the first tee box at 1:45 p.m. ET on Saturday for the third round. Ludvig Aberg and Hideki Matsuyama are just in front of them at 1:34 p.m. ET, with Tommy Fleetwood and Michael Kim in the pairing third-to-last at 1:23 p.m. ET. Rory McIlroy, solo 11th at 4 under, will go off with Russell Henley at 12:50 p.m. ET. BMW defending champion and Keegan Bradley will play alongside Chris Gotterup at 10:39 p.m. ET. 2025 BMW Championship third round tee times Here's a look at every tee time for Saturday's action at Caves Valley. Tee time Players 9:10 a.m. Ryan Gerard 9:17 a.m. Sam Stevens, Andrew Novak 9:28 a.m. Brian Campbell, Lucas Glover 9:39 a.m. Thomas Detry, Ryan Fox 9:50 a.m. Sungjae Im, Jhonattan Vegas 10:01 a.m. Xander Schauffele, Akshay Bhatia 10:12 a.m. Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas 10:28 a.m. Tom Hoge, J.T. Poston 10:39 a.m. Keegan Bradley, Chris Gotterup 10:50 a.m. Brian Harman, Bud Cauley 11:01 a.m. Corey Conners, Justin Rose 11:12 a.m. Nick Taylor, Matt Fitzpatrick 11:23 a.m. Cameron Young, Kurt Kitayama 11:39 a.m. Daniel Berger, Jacob Bridgeman 11:50 a.m. Ben Griffin, Si Woo Kim 12:01 p.m. Shane Lowry, Patrick Cantlay 12:12 p.m. Denny McCarthy, J.J. Spaun 12:23 p.m. Harris English, Jason Day 12:34 p.m. Rickie Fowler, Taylor Pendrith 12:50 p.m. Rory McIlroy, Russell Henley 1:01 p.m. Sam Burns, Viktor Hovland 1:12 p.m. Maverick McNealy, Harry Hall 1:23 p.m. Tommy Fleetwood, Michael Kim 1:34 p.m. Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama 1:45 p.m. Robert MacIntyre, Scottie Scheffler Where to watch, stream, listen to BMW Championship 2025 This is the TV channel, streaming and radio schedule for the 2025 BMW Championship, with NBC, Golf Channel, Peacock, ESPN+ and PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM all teaming up for the coverage. All times listed are ET. Third round, Saturday, August 16 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., Golf Channel, NBC Sports App 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., NBC, Peacock We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Golfweek operates independently, though, and this doesn't influence our coverage. What is the cut at the 2025 BMW Championship? Just like last week, there is no 36-hole cut on the PGA Tour this week, but there will be a top-30 cutoff come Sunday for those who will advance to the Tour Championship. With 36 holes left to play over the weekend, time is running out in the chase for a coveted top-30 spot. What is the prize money at the 2025 BMW Championship? The BMW has a $20 million purse and a $3.6 million first-place prize. This will also be the final week for PGA Tour golfers to compile earnings for the official money list, as the Tour Championship payouts are considered "bonus" money. What is Saturday's weather forecast for the 2025 BMW Championship? The temperatures in Owings Mills, Maryland, are expected to be high 80s, according to Accuweather. Hot and humid is in the weekend forecast. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: BMW Championship leaderboard, highlights: Robert MacIntyre leads by four
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Yankees fans ready to remind Correa and Altuve about 2017 and old grudges
Yankees fans ready to remind Correa and Altuve about 2017 and old grudges originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Carlos Correa's return to the Astros was billed as one of baseball's feel-good stories of the summer. The former cornerstone, back in orange after a surprise deadline trade from Minnesota, is reunited not with the full 2017 core but really just with Jose Altuve, the other face of the 2017 championship that Yankees fans still believe came with an asterisk. Around baseball, the narrative leans on nostalgia. In the Bronx, there's none for the Astros. When Correa and the Astros made their first post-cheating scandal visit to Yankee Stadium, the Bronx erupted. He's also been back as a Twin. But walking into the Bronx this weekend alongside Altuve changes the math. Together, they are the two players most associated with the trash-can era: the shortstop who delivered October dagger hits and the second baseman whose every at-bat here still draws a chorus of boos. It's not hard to imagine what's coming this weekend. The first time Altuve steps in, the crowd will let loose. When Correa follows, the volume might actually rise. What matters here is memory. Yankee fans don't forget, and do not forgive, especially when the reminders are standing side by side in the other dugout. And with weekend crowds and plenty of beer money, that memory tends to get even louder. Adding fuel to it all, Saturday is Old-Timers' Day — another reminder to fans that the Yankees' road to their 28th championship may have been detoured by those 2017 Astros. Maybe that's the silver lining for New York. The Yankees have been flat in recent weeks, struggling to find an edge in a playoff race that's suddenly tighter than they'd like. If anything can jolt them, it might be the energy of an old feud. For the Astros, Correa's return is about chemistry and chasing another pennant. For Yankees fans, it's about payback — and a weekend soundtrack built for maximum volume. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Ohtani Does Something Amazing Again
Ohtani Does Something Amazing Again originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Shohei Ohtani Makes Unique MLB History Shohei Ohtani added another remarkable chapter to his incredible career on Wednesday night in Anaheim. Serving as both the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting pitcher and their leadoff hitter, Ohtani opened the game with a triple. According to MLB Network's Sarah Langs, no starting pitcher in Major League Baseball history had ever hit a leadoff triple before this moment. It is the kind of unprecedented accomplishment that has become almost routine for Ohtani, a player who constantly redefines what is possible on a baseball field. His speed, power and versatility continue to make him one of the most exciting stars in the game. Shohei Ohtani's Impressive Season at the Plate and on the Mound This season, Ohtani has been a force in both the batter's box and on the pitcher's mound. At the plate, he is piling up extra-base hits, home runs and stolen bases, showing why he is among the league leaders in multiple offensive categories. His eighth triple of the season on Wednesday tied a career high, further proving his elite speed. On the mound, Ohtani is looking to return to a dominant starter, striking out batters at an impressive rate and limiting opponents to very few scoring opportunities. He came into Wednesday's game with a 2.37 ERA over 19 innings, along with 25 strikeouts. Few players in the history of the sport have been able to excel at both hitting and pitching throughout a full season, and Ohtani continues to thrive in both roles. Dodgers Pushing Toward the Pennant Race The Los Angeles Dodgers are deep in the hunt for another National League pennant, and Ohtani's historic performances are a major reason why. The team has been strong in all phases of the game with timely hitting and dependable defense, and they are hoping Ohtani can bring the lights out pitching. As the postseason approaches, every win is critical, and Ohtani's ability to contribute as both a starting pitcher and a top-of-the-order bat gives the Dodgers a rare advantage. With Ohtani in the lineup, along with other stars, the Dodgers remain one of the favorites to make a deep playoff run. Angels Beat the Dodgers in Rivalry Clash While Ohtani's triple made headlines Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Angels have managed to steal the spotlight in the standings by defeating the Dodgers in the first two games of this series. In this cross-town rivalry, every matchup draws added attention, and the Angels' victory served as a reminder that no game can be taken for granted. For Ohtani, facing his former team is always a special occasion, and his ability to make history against the Angels only adds to the drama. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
