Jon Rahm hits back at friend Phil Mickelson after PGA Tour critique

‘I love Phil, but I don’t know what he’s talking about’: Jon Rahm slams friend and former colleague Mickelson after the six-time major winner said the PGA Tour is ‘trending downwards’ while Saudi-backed LIV Golf moves ‘upward’

  • Jon Rahm has hit back at his longtime friend Phil Mickelson after bold comments 
  • The six-time major champ said last week the PGA Tour is a descending force
  • Mickelson has come under fire on several occasions for defecting to LIV Golf
  • ‘Lefty’ believes LIV Golf is ascending despite the lack of world rankings points
  • Click here for all your latest international Sports news from DailyMail.com 

Jon Rahm has hit back at his friend and LIV Golf defector Phil Mickelson for his assessment of the PGA Tour’s trajectory, after he suggested it was ‘trending downwards’.

Rahm and Mickelson have long been friends since the former attended Mickelson’s alma mater, Arizona State University, and was coached by the 52-year-old’s brother.  

Since Mickelson’s controversial defection to the new Saudi-backed series, Rahm has not been overly critical of Mickelson. 

In April, Rahm went as far as to say his legacy ‘shouldn’t change’ despite causing controversy with comments about LIV Golf’s wealthy backers and the PGA Tour.

Spain’s Jon Rahm was left befuddled by Phil Mickelson’s assessment of the PGA Tour last week

Yet Tuesday, Rahm fired back at Mickelson after recent negative remarks regarding the PGA Tour, of which Rahm is still a member.

‘I love Phil, but I don’t know what he’s talking about,’ Rahm said Tuesday at Congaree Golf Club. 

‘Changes don’t necessarily mean trending downward. There are some changes being made, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going down, right? I truly don’t know why he said that.’ 

Mickelson further angered his detractors last week at a news conference for the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. 

Rahm (L) and Mickelson (R) have known each other for years and are both Arizona State alums

The six-time major winner said he was glad he was on the ‘winning side’ of golf’s civil war. ‘I think going forward you have to pick a side,’ Mickelson stated last Thursday. ‘You have to pick what side do you think is going to be successful. 

‘And I firmly believe that I’m on the winning side of how things are going to evolve and shape in the coming years for professional golf.

‘We play against a lot of the best players in the world on LIV and there are a lot of the best players in the world on the PGA Tour. 

‘And… until both sides sit down and have a conversation and work something out, both sides are going to continue to change and evolve. And I see LIV Golf trending upwards, I see the PGA Tour trending downwards and I love the side that I’m on.’   

Mickelson told reporters from Saudi Arabia on Thursday that he’s glad to have joined the ‘winning side of golf’ by switching to LIV, despite the tour not having any world ranking points

Since, the PGA Tour has revealed the four tournaments to be the first in the rotation to receive increased purses of at least $20million in 2023. As the two competing golf circuits continue their war of attrition, the PGA Tour is making more money available to its membership. 

Rather than pursuing global events, as was once planned, the Tour has decided upon increasing the size of the purses for 13 tournaments with an average of $20m for each.

The tour has guaranteed a minimum salary of $500,000 to rookies, which can be received up front, and lower-ranked players will get a $5,000 stipend for each missed cut.

Additionally, the top players have committed to playing at least 20 tournaments per year – which can include the four majors.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan revealed the four tournaments getting increased purses

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