19th Hole

Everything Phil Mickelson said as he is GRILLED by media at first LIV press conference

Published

2 years ago

Jun 8, 2022

Phil Mickelson is sporting a new look this week in the UK, with the 51-year-old appearing in London with an unfamiliar beard ahead of his long awaited comeback.

Another thing unfamiliar about Lefty this week is the lack of sponsors on any of his clothing, as Mickelson spoke before media today with no brands evident on his plain clothing bar his own ‘Jump Man’ logo on his hat as seen on his ‘Coffee For Wellness’ product.

That marks a big difference from the likes of Dustin Johnson, Kevin Na, and Graeme McDowell, who all appeared before the media this week with the majority of their sponsors on show, with DJ wearing Adidas clothing and his typical TaylorMade hat.

Seemingly now sponsorless, Mickelson has been answering some predictably difficult questions on Wednesday morning as he spoke ahead of this week’s LIV Golf Opener.

Here’s a rundown of everything Mickelson said in his first LIV press conference, where he seemed to consider his answers very carefully, taking many pauses throughout the presser:

Mickelson: “Well, I’ve certainly said and done a lot of things that I regret, and I’m sorry for that and the hurt that it’s caused a lot of people. I don’t condone any human rights violations at all, nobody does here, throughout the world. I’m certainly aware of everything that’s happened with Jamal Khashoggi, and I think it’s terrible. I’ve also seen the good the game of golf has done through history, and I believe that LIV Golf is going to do a lot of good for the game as well; and I’m excited about this opportunity, that’s why I’m here.

On Sportswashing

Reporter: But isn’t there a danger that you’re going to be seen as a tool of sportswashing, an attempt to try and improve an image of a human rights abusing regime through sport? And that ultimately, you could be seen as a Saudi stooge, and that could tarnish your legacy. Are you comfortable with that?

Mickelson: I said earlier, I don’t condone human rights violations. I don’t know how I can be any more clear. I understand your question, but again, I love this game of golf, I’ve seen the good it has done, and I see an opportunity for LIV Golf to do a lot of good for the game across the world, and I’m excited to be a part of this opportunity.

*Different reporter*

Reporter: You said something in a Sports Illustrated interview, and you said it again this morning, ‘what happened to Jamal Khashoggi is awful, but I’ve seen the good that the game of golf has done throughout history.’ No matter how successful this tournament could ever be, it can’t counteract someone being murdered, can it?

Mickelson: Nobody here condones human rights violations, and nobody here is trying to make up for anything.

Reporter: But you said those two statements one after the other, which sort of implies that you feel that one can sort of make up for the other, and one of our colleagues used the phrase sportswashing, and that’s surely what that is an attempt to do?

Mickelson: The game of golf I’ve seen unify and bring people together, and I love that I’m a part of this sport and this game has given me so much, and it is fun for me to give back and to bring this game throughout the world on a global scale and have the opportunities that LIV Golf provides. I don’t know how else I can say it, I don’t condone human rights violations. Nobody does. I don’t know how else to say it more assertively.

On Signing With A Group He Was Using As Leverage

Reporter: So you also spoke about leverage, you used the word leverage, and here you are sitting and representing the very people you were using to leverage. How do you explain that?

Mickelson: I’ve really enjoyed my time on the PGA Tour. I’ve had some incredible experiences, some great memories, and I have a lot of strong opinions on things that should and could be a lot better. One of the mistakes I’ve made is voicing those publicly, so I will really make an effort to keep those conversations behind closed doors going forward. I think that’s the way to be the most efficient and get the most out of it.

What He’s Apologizing For

Reporter: Can you just clarify, you’ve apologized again just now. Can you just clarify what you’re apologizing for? Is it sorry for speaking the truth about the Saudis, or are you sorry about the shameless hypocrisy of taking their money anyway?

Mickelson: I understand that many people have very strong opinions and may disagree with my decision. And I can empathize with that. But at this time, this is an opportunity that gives me the chance to have the most balance in my life going forward, and I think this is going to do a lot of good for the game.

On If He’s Serving A PGA Tour Ban

Reporter: Can you tell me if you’ve served a ban or are serving a ban with the PGA Tour?

Mickelson: I choose not to speak publicly on PGA Tour issues at this time.

On Next Week’s U.S. Open

Reporter: Can you say if you’re going to play in next week’s U.S. Open?

Mickelson: I will play next week’s U.S. Open. I’m looking forward to it.

On If It’s All About The Money

Reporter: You’re talking about this being good for the game of golf. The general perception is that this is all about the money for the players. Can you give me your thoughts on that?

Mickelson: I don’t necessarily agree with your premise, but I think that the opportunity that it provides me to play, compete, bring the sport throughout the world, play less, and have a better balance in life on and off the golf course. I know that it gives me a lot of positives personally and professionally, and I believe it does the same for everyone else in the field.

On The Public Criticism From His Peers

Reporter: How did you feel when colleagues of yours criticized you so publicly, given that you knew them?

Mickelson: I understand how many people are going to have very strong opinions on this, my peers included. I respect their opinions. I can empathize with their feelings, and I’m appreciative to the many peers who have reached out to me and shown their support.

On Why He Won’t Be Resigning His PGA Tour Membership

Mickelson: I have been a part of the Tour for over 30 years. I’ve had a lot of incredible memories that have been formed and experiences I’ve shared. Tournaments I’ve won, and lost.

I also received a lot from the PGA Tour. I’m very grateful for that, for everything the PGA Tour and the game of golf has provided for me and my family.

I’ve also worked really hard to contribute and try to build and add value to the Tour during my time there.

I worked really hard to earn a lifetime exemption, and I don’t want to give that up; I don’t believe I should have to. I don’t know what that means for the future, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ve earned that, and I don’t plan on just giving it up.”

On If He Won’t Resign So He Is Still Eligible For The Ryder Cup

Mickelson: Like the PGA Tour, the Ryder has provided so many special memories, relationships and friendships. I’m hopeful to be a part of the Ryder Cup going forward, but that’s not the reason to retain my membership, I’ve earned it. I believe all players should have the right to play whenever and wherever they want, which is consistent to being an independent contractor.

On His Four Month Hiatus

Reporter: It was said by one of your colleagues (Bryson) that you’ve gone dark, whatever that means, but what have you done for the last four months, because nobody has seen you?

Mickelson: I’ve had an awesome time. I’ve had a four-month break from the game that I’ve not had in over three decades. I’ve had an opportunity to spend time with my wife Amya bunch and travel parts of the world and spend time at a place we have in Montana.. skiing and hiking in Sedona, what a beautiful place that is.

It’s given me time to continue some of the work and therapy that I’ve been working on, on some areas I’m deficient in, in my life.

It’s given me time to reflect on what I want to do going forward, what’s best for me, what’s best for the people I care about. This allows me to be more present and engaged with people I care about.

That is why, when I think about being a part of LIV Golf, I feel so good about it.

On His Reported $200 million Sign-On Fee

Mickelson: I feel like contract agreements should be private. But it doesn’t seemed to be that way.

On Missing the Masters and PGA Championship

Mickelson: I was under the understanding that I was able to play but I really needed some time away. I did watch them but I didn’t necessarily want to be there. I wasn’t in a position to be there and be able to compete.

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19th Hole

‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage

Published

2 days ago

Apr 22, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Over the past year or so, PGA Tour star Patrick Cantlay has taken a great deal of criticism for his pace of play.

Now, Cantlay is once again under fire for a questionable decision he made on Sunday at the RBC Heritage.

After the horn sounded to suspend play due to darkness, Cantlay, whose ball was in the fairway on the 18th hole, had a decision to make. With over 200 yards into the green and extreme winds working against the shot, conventional wisdom would be to wait until Monday morning to hit the shot.

On the other hand, if he could finish the hole, he may just want to get the event over with so he could get out of Hilton Head.

Curiously, Cantlay chose neither of those options. After hitting 3-wood into the green, and still coming up short, the former FedEx Cup champion chose to mark his ball and return to chip and putt on Monday morning.

Ian Woosnam, who was watching from home, took to X to give his thoughts on Cantlay’s decision-making.

Can’t believe my eyes watching Patrick Cantlay why on earth would you hit your second shot then mark your ball absolutely crazy, maybe says a lot ?

— Ian Woosnam (@IWoosnam) April 22, 2024

Cantlay would end up getting up and down for par when play resumed at 8:00 Monday morning.

Following his round, Cantlay explained his decision to wait to hit his third shot the next morning:

“I really did want to finish last night, so I felt like if I could get the ball up there maybe in an easier spot, maybe I would have finished, but as I got the ball up near the green, I realized it would be easier to finish this morning. That’s what I decided to do.”

GolfWRX has reached out to Patrick Cantlay’s management team for a response to Woosnam’s comments.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting preview

Published

2 days ago

Apr 22, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.

TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.

Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.

However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.

Past Winners at TPC Louisiana

2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)

2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks

Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)

Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.

This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.

McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.

Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)

Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.

Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.

Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)

Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.

NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 LIV Adelaide betting preview: Cam Smith ready for big week down under

Published

2 days ago

Apr 22, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

After having four of the top twelve players on the leaderboard at The Masters, LIV Golf is set for their fifth event of the season: LIV Adelaide.

For both LIV fans and golf fans in Australia, LIV Adelaide is one of the most anticipated events of the year. With 35,000 people expected to attend each day of the tournament, the Grange Golf Club will be crawling with fans who are passionate about the sport of golf. The 12th hole, better known as “the watering hole”, is sure to have the rowdiest of the fans cheering after a long day of drinking some Leishman Lager.

The Grange Golf Club is a par-72 that measures 6,946 yards. The course features minimal resistance, as golfers went extremely low last season. In 2023, Talor Gooch shot consecutive rounds of 62 on Thursday and Friday, giving himself a gigantic cushion heading into championship Sunday. Things got tight for a while, but in the end, the Oklahoma State product was able to hold off The Crushers’ Anirban Lahiri for a three-shot victory.

The Four Aces won the team competition with the Range Goats finishing second.

*All Images Courtesy of LIV Golf*

Past Winners at LIV Adelaide

2023: Talor Gooch (-19)

Stat Leaders Through LIV Miami

Green in Regulation

Richard Bland
Jon Rahm
Paul Casey

Fairways Hit

Abraham Ancer
Graeme McDowell
Henrik Stenson

Driving Distance

Bryson DeChambeau
Joaquin Niemann
Dean Burmester

Putting

Cameron Smith
Louis Oosthuizen
Matt Jones

2024 LIV Adelaide Picks

Cameron Smith +1400 (DraftKings)

When I pulled up the odds for LIV Adelaide, I was more than a little surprised to see multiple golfers listed ahead of Cameron Smith on the betting board. A few starts ago, Cam finished runner-up at LIV Hong Kong, which is a golf course that absolutely suits his eye. Augusta National in another course that Smith could roll out of bed and finish in the top-ten at, and he did so two weeks ago at The Masters, finishing T6.

At Augusta, he gained strokes on the field on approach, off the tee (slightly), and of course, around the green and putting. Smith able to get in the mix at a major championship despite coming into the week feeling under the weather tells me that his game is once again rounding into form.

The Grange Golf Club is another course that undoubtedly suits the Australian. Smith is obviously incredibly comfortable playing in front of the Aussie faithful and has won three Australian PGA Championship’s. The course is very short and will allow Smith to play conservative off the tee, mitigating his most glaring weakness. With birdies available all over the golf course, there’s a chance the event turns into a putting contest, and there’s no one on the planet I’d rather have in one of those than Cam Smith.

Louis Oosthuizen +2200 (DraftKings)

Louis Oosthuizen has simply been one of the best players on LIV in the 2024 seas0n. The South African has finished in the top-10 on the LIV leaderboard in three of his five starts, with his best coming in Jeddah, where he finished T2. Perhaps more impressively, Oosthuizen finished T7 at LIV Miami, which took place at Doral’s “Blue Monster”, an absolutely massive golf course. Given that Louis is on the shorter side in terms of distance off the tee, his ability to play well in Miami shows how dialed he is with the irons this season.

In addition to the LIV finishes, Oosthuizen won back-to-back starts on the DP World Tour in December at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Mauritus Open. He also finished runner-up at the end of February in the International Series Oman. The 41-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers of 2024, regardless of tour.

For the season, Louis ranks 4th on LIV in birdies made, T9 in fairways hit and first in putting. He ranks 32nd in driving distance, but that won’t be an issue at this short course. Last season, he finished T11 at the event, but was in decent position going into the final round but fell back after shooting 70 while the rest of the field went low. This season, Oosthuizen comes into the event in peak form, and the course should be a perfect fit for his smooth swing and hot putter this week.