Golf Channel analyst goes after Phil Mickelson again after latest LIV Golf claim

Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee had a few things to say over Phil Mickelson's latest claim about PGA Tour stars wanting to join LIV Golf.

Ben Smith

19 Oct 2023

Golf Channel analyst goes after Phil Mickelson again after latest LIV Golf claim — Golf Channel analyst goes after Phil Mickelson again after latest LIV Golf…

Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee had a few things to say about Phil Mickelson's latest claim that PGA Tour stars are lining up to join LIV Golf.

Mickelson, 53, is in Miami for the $50m season-ending team championship at Trump National Doral.

Before the tournament began he fielded questions from reporters about LIV's future amid talk negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF are not looking particularly positive as the organisations look to ratify the 6 June framework agreement.

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Lefty also claimed there is 'much more' going on behind-the-scenes as the rival league was officially denied world ranking points.

In Mickelson's view, the stumbling block for future defections is how many spaces on LIV are available.

Chamblee has been one of Mickelson's and LIV's biggest critics. So much so, he has called for the six-time major champion to be removed from the hall of fame.

"He says other stars will join," Chamblee wrote on X. "But what he means is, he HOPES other stars will, just like all those do who find themselves catastrophically on the wrong side of an issue, hoping that others will come along and help them ameliorate the embarrassment of their actions."

One user pointed out that Chamblee has been 'wrong' with his predictions about what will happen in the men's game on multiple occasions.

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The former PGA Tour player conceded he has been wrong a lot, but not about everything.

He claimed to have predicted Dustin Johnson's hall of fame induction in 2009, said Hideki Matsuyama would be the first Japanese player to win a major, Europe would win the 2023 Ryder Cup and Mickelson would be the oldest major winner of all time.

Chamblee continued:

"It's inevitable others will join, as I don't think the money/temptation will go away, but there are very few stars that truly make a difference; such as Tiger and Rory and even Rahm… Rahm worries me a bit as he seems open to the idea, but I sense that his deep knowledge of the history of the game and his obvious future place in it will keep him from selling out. I hope that's the case."

Representatives of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF have until 31 December to forge an agreement.

That deadline can be extended. Recent reports have suggested that will be extended.

Should the deal not happen, it has been reported the PGA Tour are looking to have a war chest of $2bn to battle the breakaway tour.

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