Next month’s Champions Dinner at the Masters just got a whole lot tastier with Phil Mickelson accusing Fred Couples of pulling off a “low class jerk move” for his comments on LIV star Brooks Koepka.
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Earlier this week, Couples said in a US radio interview that Koepka “really wants to come back” to the PGA Tour shortly after the five-time major champion made a surprise visit to TGL, the new indoor golf league featuring many of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars.
“I talked to Brooks Koepka all the time. I love Brooks Koepka, and I’m not going to say anything extra except I talked to him all the time,” Couples said.
“He wants to come back. I will say that I believe he really wants to come back and play the Tour.”
Koepka joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf for a reported US$100 million in 2022 but speculation has been rife that the 34-year-old has been frustrated by the lack of playing opportunities in the 14-event per year league.
Mickelson, who was one of the first high profile names to join LIV, was displeased by Couples’ comments, sharing his anger in a since deleted post on X.
“If it’s not true, he damaged a relationship which he cares about,” Mickelson wrote. “If it’s true he took away Brook’s control of the timeline and narrative. Either way this is a low class jerk move by Fred.”
Mickelson’s comments are not the first time he and Couples have been embroiled in a slanging match.
The latter has been a staunch defender of the PGA Tour and called Mickelson a “nutbag” back in 2023, but added the caveat that he viewed the leftie as one of the ten best golfers of all time and said he “still” likes his former Ryder Cup teammate
Couples’ main issue was with how much Mickelson was paid to join the breakaway league considering the 54-year-old is undeniably not the same player he once was.
“If you’re willing to give Phil Mickelson $200 million at age 53 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you,” Couples said.
Couples’ Koepka comments came as speculation has intensified in recent times that a merger is nearing between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, largely due to the White House meetings involving US President Donald Trump.
But PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan implored golf fans to cool their jets when speaking on Tuesday, saying that while progress is being made in a deal, it will not come in the immediate future.
“I’m not going to get into any conversations that I did or didn’t have with players on LIV,” Monahan said when asked whether LIV players had been in touch regarding their options.
“I’m focused on the players that are on the PGA Tour. It takes all of my energy and my team’s energy to make sure that we’re continuing to improve and strengthen the PGA Tour and doing so in the eyes of fans. Ultimately, that question is going to be answered through the conversations that we’re having with the PIF.”
There had been reports of LIV Golfers potentially returning to the PGA Tour at next week’s The Players Championship, but that always appeared unlikely considering LIV Singapore will be played at the same time.
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