Although moving to LIV Golf has provided a huge financial windfall to Phil Mickelson, it hasn’t paid dividends in terms of his results on the course.
Mickelson hasn’t exactly set the world on fire while playing in LIV despite being its biggest defender. He’s currently 203rd overall in the world rankings, though a lot of that is because LIV results are not honored as part of that system.
Still, the six-time major champion is eligible to compete in next week’s Open Championship at Troon as a previous winner (2013).
Speaking ahead of LIV Golf Andalucia, a reporter asked Mickelson about his loss at the Open Championship at Troon in 2016. Mickelson quipped “Sure, I love talking about my losses. Go ahead.”
From that point on, it was a very testy exchange.
“On that Sunday morning if somebody told you you were going to get a 65 and not win, what would you have thought?” asked trh reporter.
“I wouldn’t have thought it was right,” he replied. “I thought I played a great final round, well enough to win, and it just wasn’t. Like I said, I played some of my best golf and it wasn’t enough to win, which is the first time I can remember that being the case, and I thought 65 for sure would be enough.”
“So is it your proudest defeat, if that sounds right?” asked the reporter.
“I mean we keep framing my losses in different ways,” Mickelson replied, reportedly through gritted teeth. “It’s not making me feel any better either way.”
Mickelson will get the chance to redeem himself as The Open Championship returns to Troon next week.
About Stacey Mickles
Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.