Phil Mickelson's old enemy launches fresh attack over LIV Golf move

Phil Mickelson was one of the first PGA Tour superstars to leave for LIV Golf (Image: Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson has come under fire from a long-time critic, who is "disappointed" with his involvement in the LIV Golf saga. His decision to leave the PGA Tour for the breakaway league, which came with a handsome pay package, has led to fresh claims he "turned his back" on the sport of golf.

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His move to join the Saudi-backed league raised several eyebrows, especially following his initial reference to the country as a "scary motherf******". Despite these initial reservations, Mickelson defended joining the league and made the switch in the summer of 2022.

Stars like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm have since followed suit. But many fellow golfers haven't held back their criticism.

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Brandel Chamblee, a sports analyst for NBC Sports, has been one of Mickelson's fiercest critics. He even suggested previously that he should lose his Hall of Fame status.

Brandel Chamblee has launched fresh criticism of Mickelson (Image: Jennifer Perez/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

This week, Chamblee brought fresh criticism against Mickelson, slamming him for "turning his back" on the sport and causing damage to golf. He stated: "Hardly any of these other players had the popularity to make a difference to tilt the game one direction or another. Phil had the potential to do a lot of good in the game. The fans loved him.

"You know, within the small world of golf, there were a lot of people that didn't particularly care for him, but I certainly enjoyed watching him play. He had a very high level of skill and a very high level of knowledge of what he was capable of, and it was fun to watch him."

"I'm disappointed in him because he could have left the game in a better place. I think that the players that have gone to LIV have done a disservice to the game of golf. It's like they're going to get theirs. It's like they're all pulling the ladders up."

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"They had to climb up those ladders to get to where they were, and the people that had placed those ladders were the generations that came before them. But they got there, and they think, well, I did it all on my own, I'm going to get everything for me. I'm pulling the ladders up."

"I think Phil could have done a lot of good for the game of golf. Instead he's really hurt the game."

Mickelson will be alongside his former PGA Tour stars once again next week. He returns to play at Augusta National in The Masters, where he impressed in 2023, finishing second behind Jon Rahm.

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Phil Mickelson's old enemy launches fresh attack over LIV Golf move

Phil Mickelson's old enemy launches fresh attack over LIV Golf move

Phil Mickelson's old enemy launches fresh attack over LIV Golf move

Phil Mickelson's old enemy launches fresh attack over LIV Golf move

Phil Mickelson's old enemy launches fresh attack over LIV Golf move