Phil Mickelson has never been shy about voicing his opinions, and he hasn’t changed in retirement.
While Mickelson’s place among golf’s greats is secure, his career has also been filled with its share of controversies.
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He was a driving force behind LIV Golf’s launch and one of the most high-profile departures from the PGA Tour in 2022.
Now 55, Mickelson isn’t just outspoken about golf—he’s vocal about politics too, regularly weighing in on both subjects without holding back.
Phil Mickelson responds to Brandel Chamblee’s bold Players Championship Statement
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Last week, Brandel Chamblee made headlines with a strong statement about the status of The Players Championship.
The former PGA Tour pro went as far as to say that it was above any of the four majors in terms of importance.
“When you look at the Players Championship, with all due respect to the other four major championships, it is the best field in golf. It is the deepest field in golf,” he claimed.
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“And by virtue of the fact that only one person in its 50 year history has managed to successfully defend it, I would argue that it is the hardest major championship to win.”
Mickelson argued against Chamblee’s claim, pointing out that TPC Sawgrass no longer hosts the strongest field in golf. Instead, he believes LIV Golf now offers better competition.
He explained: “If they wanted to build value for their own asset, allowing LIV players would greatly increase interest, exposure and commercial value. But SSG had billions they were required to spend.”
Phil Mickelson’s claim about David Puig doesn’t add up
There’s little doubt over Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau being among the top 10 players in the world, and it’s clear that The Players Championship no longer features the deepest field in golf.
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But Phil Mickelson’s inclusion of Joaquin Niemann in that group is more debatable.
And his comment about Puig was completely off base.
The young Spaniard, who is 24 years old, has plenty of potential but just three professional wins – one on the DP World Tour and two on the Asian Tour. That puts him well outside any serious conversation about the world’s elite players.
Puig’s best major finish so far is a tie for 39th at the 2023 US Open. While he could develop into a top player in time, there’s no evidence right now to support Mickelson’s claim.
If Puig does start picking up wins and contending in majors over the next few years, then maybe there will be a case to revisit this discussion. But at present, he isn’t anywhere near that level yet.
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