Phil Mickelson has opened a war of words with a fellow Masters champion, accusing Fred Couples of a “low class jerk move” with comments relating to Brooks Koepka.
Speculation has swirled for some time that Koepka, who joined the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV circuit in a $100m deal in 2022, is seeking a return to the PGA Tour. The lack of competitive rounds available on LIV is supposedly of concern to Koepka. Couples fuelled that suggestion when speaking to a US radio station this week. “He wants to come back,” Couples said of Koepka. “I will say that I believe he really wants to come back and play the tour.”
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Koepka has previously suggested that he would not have made the LIV switch were it not for fitness concerns.
In a fierce riposte on Tuesday on social media, which was later deleted, Mickelson took aim at Couples. “If it’s not true, he damaged a relationship which he cares about,” Mickelson, who joined LIV in 2022, wrote. “If it’s true he took away [sic] Brook’s control of the timeline and narrative. Either way this is a low class jerk move by Fred.”
Mickelson’s approach could lead to an interesting scene at the annual Masters past champions’ dinner. Couples prevailed at Augusta in 1992, with Mickelson the Masters winner in 2004, 2006 and 2010. The pair will be in the same room on Tuesday of Masters week as usual.
Speaking in Orlando on Tuesday, the PGA Tour’s commissioner Jay Monahan refused to directly address what would happen if a LIV golfer approach his organisation to seek a comeback. The PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund remain in protracted negotiations as they seek to align the men’s professional game.
“I’m not going to get into any conversations that I did or didn’t have with players on LIV,” said Monahan 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.”
