The Maverick’s Provocation: Unpacking Mickelson’s Grand Vision

Phil Mickelson, the six-time major champion often called ‘Lefty’ by fans, has never been one to shy away from controversy. Since his audacious leap to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league in 2022, he has remained a vocal advocate for the rebel tour, often using his platform to challenge the established order of the PGA Tour. But his latest social media musing isn’t just talk; it’s a full-blown hypothetical blueprint for a dramatically expanded LIV Golf, one that would fundamentally alter the competitive landscape.

Mickelson, ever the provocateur, took to X (formerly Twitter) to float his audacious idea. He posed a “random Monday morning ‘hypothetical’ question,” envisioning a LIV tour that would nearly triple its current size and scope. Specifically, he suggested:

  • A 35-event schedule: A significant increase from LIV’s current 14 global events, rivaling the PGA Tour’s calendar.
  • A full 120-person field: More than double the current LIV field of 54 players, opening up opportunities for a much broader range of golfers.
  • Dual shotgun starts (morning and afternoon): A logistical innovation designed to accelerate play and maximize broadcast windows, ensuring all players are on the course simultaneously.
  • Current LIV events as “elevated” within the schedule: Creating a tiered system, much like the PGA Tour’s “Signature Events,” where existing, high-profile LIV tournaments would hold greater prestige and prize money.

This vision is not merely an incremental adjustment; it’s a radical reimagining of how professional golf could operate. The dual shotgun start, while efficient, directly challenges the traditional sequential tee times that have defined golf tournaments for decades. The vastly expanded field would necessitate a complete overhaul of player recruitment and qualification, raising immediate questions about where such a large pool of professional-caliber golfers would come from without poaching from rival tours. Furthermore, the concept of “elevated” events within an already exclusive tour signals LIV’s ambition to create its own hierarchy of importance, independent of golf’s traditional majors.

“Here’s a random Monday morning ‘hypothetical’ question. What if LIV went to a 35-event, full 120-person field, dual shotgun start (morning and afternoon), and the current LIV events were the ‘elevated’ events within the schedule. Where would those additional players come from, and what would happen to the PGA Tour then?”


Phil Mickelson, via X (formerly Twitter)

The Roar of Disapproval: Fan and Expert Backlash

Mickelson’s “hypothetical” wasn’t met with the kind of visionary excitement he might have hoped for. Instead, the response was, as one report put it, “virtually unanimous”—and overwhelmingly negative. The golf community, particularly those with a deep allegiance to the PGA Tour and traditional golf, quickly descended with scorn, ridicule, and a clear message: this isn’t what they want.

The backlash highlighted several deep-seated grievances against LIV’s model and Mickelson’s role in it. Many fans see LIV as a disruptive force, driven primarily by money rather than the integrity or tradition of the sport. The idea of expanding what they perceive as an already flawed model only intensified their frustration. One defiant fan’s response was particularly blunt, perfectly capturing the sentiment of many traditionalists:

“Phil, LIV is a failed experiment, but you all banked it. Take the personal W (win) and move on.”


An impassioned golf fan responding to Mickelson on X

This sentiment underscores a widespread belief that LIV, despite its massive financial backing, hasn’t managed to win over the hearts of a significant portion of golf’s fanbase. The criticism extended beyond general dislike, targeting specific elements of Mickelson’s proposal. The “dual shotgun start,” meant to inject pace and novelty, was met with disdain. “No one wants to see shotgun starts, let alone dual shotgun starts with more players that no one knows,” remarked another fan, highlighting the preference for traditional tournament progression and the perceived lack of star power beyond LIV’s initial big names.

Even within the professional golf community, Mickelson’s idea was met with sarcasm. Former PGA Tour player and current commentator Colt Knost quipped, “That’s a lot of concerts!” — a jab at LIV’s controversial integration of music concerts into its tournament schedule, often seen by purists as a distraction rather than an enhancement. This highlights a cultural chasm between LIV’s entertainment-first approach and the traditionalists’ focus on pure competition.

💡 Key Insight

The “overwhelming response” isn’t just about LIV’s structure, but a deeper ideological battle over golf’s soul: tradition vs. innovation, and the role of entertainment in professional sports.

🤔 The “Failed Experiment” Argument

Critics often point to LIV’s lower TV ratings, sparse attendance at some events, and lack of OWGR points as evidence it’s struggling to gain mainstream acceptance, despite huge payouts.

The prevailing sentiment among these vocal critics is a desire for unity, not further division. Amidst the stalled discussions over a potential merger of the PGA Tour and LIV, a fan suggested a pathway to peace, proposing: “What if the tours got back together and had 20 total events at great venues with great fields…everything else was trying to qualify for those 20 events that include majors.” Mickelson’s brief response of “awesome” to this idea was a rare moment of seeming agreement, highlighting a potential common ground, albeit one overshadowed by his more provocative expansion theory.

The Merger Maelstrom: A Strategic Gambit or Desperate Plea?

Mickelson’s “hypothetical” isn’t happening in a vacuum. It comes at a critical juncture for professional golf, with the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls LIV Golf, still hanging in the balance. The initial framework agreement, announced with much fanfare in June 2023, faced immediate scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department and considerable internal resistance from PGA Tour players and board members. Months later, the deadline for a definitive agreement has passed, and talks continue with no clear resolution.

So, why would Mickelson float such an aggressive expansion plan now? There are several theories, each revealing a different facet of the complex power dynamics at play.

  • Leverage in Negotiations: One perspective is that Mickelson’s tweet is a strategic maneuver, designed to apply pressure on the PGA Tour. By publicly outlining a bold, independent expansion, LIV might be signaling that they are not waiting around for a merger and are prepared to escalate the golf war. This could force the PGA Tour’s hand, pushing them towards a resolution or risk losing more ground in the long run.
  • A True Alternative Vision: It could also be that LIV, and by extension the PIF, genuinely believes in a model distinct from the PGA Tour. This proposal suggests a complete, self-sustaining ecosystem that offers a different product to both players and fans. If merger talks fail, LIV is demonstrating it has a clear, albeit controversial, path forward.
  • Testing the Waters: Mickelson, known for his forward-thinking (and sometimes off-the-wall) ideas, might simply be gauging public reaction. He’s floating a balloon, seeing how much pushback or support such a drastic change might garner. The overwhelmingly negative response, however, suggests the waters are still very chilly for such ideas.
  • Player Morale: For LIV players who might be feeling uncertain about their future amid stalled merger talks, this vision could be a morale boost. It projects confidence and a long-term plan, assuring them that LIV is here to stay, with or without a PGA Tour partnership.

What’s undeniable is that this “hypothetical” exacerbates the tension. While many yearn for a unified golf world, Mickelson’s proposal suggests a future where LIV and the PGA Tour could become entrenched, independent giants, each vying for supremacy, players, and fan allegiance. It’s a high-stakes gamble that could either lead to a much-needed resolution or solidify a fractured future for professional golf.

The Uncharted Fairway: Where Golf is *Really* Headed

The reactions to Mickelson’s bold vision, combined with the current state of golf, reveal a complex and often uncomfortable truth about where the sport is headed. It’s NOT what many expected when LIV Golf burst onto the scene, promising disruption and innovation. The “untold truth” isn’t a single secret, but a series of interconnected realities that are reshaping the game:

  1. 1

    Entrenched Division, Not Inevitable Unification

    When the merger was announced, many optimistically believed it was the beginning of the end of golf’s civil war. The untold truth is that it might actually be solidifying the battle lines. Mickelson’s “hypothetical” suggests LIV is preparing for a long, independent fight, implying they no longer see a merger as the only path forward. This means golf fans might need to accept a future where two distinct, competing tours co-exist, each with its own set of rules, players, and loyalties. This isn’t the unified utopia many hoped for; it’s a permanent divergence.

  2. 2

    Fan Loyalty Remains Stronger Than Expected

    Despite the allure of guaranteed money and a new format, the “overwhelming response” highlights that a significant portion of golf’s global fanbase prioritizes tradition and the existing competitive structure of the PGA Tour and the four Majors. The idea that sheer financial power or a radical new format could easily win over fans has proven more challenging than LIV likely anticipated. This indicates that the emotional connection to golf’s heritage is a far more powerful force than the proponents of disruption may have initially calculated.

  3. 3

    The American Golf Landscape Faces Unprecedented Pressure

    For American golf, the stakes are incredibly high. The PGA Tour has long been the dominant force, a bedrock of the sport in the U.S. Mickelson’s vision, if realized, would mean a direct, aggressive assault on that dominance. It’s not just about player contracts; it’s about sponsorship dollars, media rights, and the very narrative of American professional golf. The “untold truth” is the increasing likelihood that golf’s biggest stars will continue to be split, forcing American fans to choose between competing loyalties and potentially dilute the overall quality of fields in non-Major events. This tension will likely define golf for the foreseeable future, making every Major tournament a de facto showdown between the two factions.

  4. 4

    Player Pathways and Legacy Are Still At Risk

    One unexpected consequence is the continued uncertainty for players, especially younger pros aspiring to reach the pinnacle of the sport. With two potentially distinct tours, the pathway to success becomes more complicated. Does one prioritize guaranteed money and a team format (LIV) or historic legacies, world ranking points, and fierce competition (PGA)? The “untold truth” for many pros is that their career choices might still come with significant trade-offs, impacting their ability to compete against the absolute best on a consistent basis and to forge a universally recognized legacy.

  5. 5

    The Business of Golf is More Opaque Than Ever

    Behind the headlines and social media posts, the business dealings of professional golf have never been more complex. The “untold truth” is that the average fan has very little insight into the true nature of the negotiations, the financial pressures, or the long-term strategies employed by either side. Mickelson’s “hypothetical” forces us to remember that beneath the surface, monumental sums of money and powerful geopolitical interests are at play, making the future of golf a chess match played on a global scale, far beyond the confines of the golf course.