Multiple major champion criticises LIV Golf duo: "He's their star player, it's bonkers!"

Sir Nick Faldo says Phil Mickelson makes the annual dinner at The Masters "awkward" and it's "bonkers" that Joaquin Niemann is LIV Golf's star player. 

Six-time major winner Mickelson, now 55, caused a stir way back in 2022 when he decided to decamp to the breakaway LIV Golf League for a reported $200m. 

When he did so, Mickelson described LIV's Saudi financiers as "scary mother-------" to get involved with and accused the PGA Tour of "obnoxious greed". 

His incendiary remarks forced him into an extended break from the game and, for many, Mickelson's reputation is now permanently tarnished.

Faldo appeared to indicate as much on a recent appearance on National Club Golfer's podcast. 

The 68-year-old, who won the green jacket in 1989, 1990 and 1996, told the pod that Mickelson's presence at the annual dinner served in honour of past champions at Augusta National is "awkward". 

Mickelson chose not to play the 2022 Masters Tournament to "prioritise the ones I love most" and "work on being the man I want to be". 

When he returned to Augusta National a year later, it is understood Mickelson sat near the end of the table and didn't say one word. 

"Some guys make it a little awkward," Faldo told NCG. "Obviously, Phil."

He added: "There is an element of it getting less each year, them and us, and that sort of thing.

"Because he’s always so outspoken but I think the way he slated the Tour back in the day – Let them get on with their own world."

As for LIV Golf itself, Faldo has never minced his words. 

The Englishman has always viewed the league as "exhibition golf" that should not be taken seriously. 

I just let them go and do their own thing, they believe they’re doing a great product and everything,” Faldo said.

"My line now is that they're the luckiest golfers in the world because you've got half the field you haven't heard of playing in a $25 million tournament each week," Faldo said. 

"You've got the middle ranking guys who are either injured or about to retire, earning 10 times more than what they could’ve earned on tour with the same golf.

"Then, you've got half a dozen superstars being paid a fortune and haven't moved the needle, and the other golfers are locked out."

Faldo also criticised LIV Golf's business model. "It's not the real world," he added. 

"They're all excited that they've signed up two golfers that were 250th in the world and 350th in the world, and they're all excited about that.

"Marc Leishman, you haven't heard of Marc Leishman, have you? He won $10 million last year, and you haven’t heard of these guys.

"Joaquin Niemann won $20 million, and how good were his major performances through the year? He just missed the cut in Australia. He's their star player, it's bonkers."

Brooks Koepka's future unclear

Elsewhere, LIV Golf chief executive Scott O'Neil has given a wide-ranging interview about the league's future ambitions. 

O'Neil, who replaced Greg Norman at the helm at the turn of the year, told Sports Illustrated that he is hopeful the breakaway will finally secure world ranking points in 2026. 

LIV has been locked out of the OWGR system since its launch but recent changes to the league have given O'Neil optimism this will soon change. 

O'Neil said LIV have been locked in talks with OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman for months. 

He did not rule out LIV Golf attempting to recruit high-profile PGA Tour players, but suggested the breakaway will continue to try and recruit younger players. 

Asked about the significant spending on player contracts, O'Neil said: "I only have an 11-month view. I wasn't here when they had to do what they had to do to set LIV up, I wasn't here when some of the madness in the ecosystem was happening.

"I only know from the first day of January when I showed up, I have hired a business team that I would argue is second to none in terms of commercial acumen. So I like what we do and how we do it

He also addressed rumours Brooks Koepka is ready to quit LIV Golf when his contract expires at the end of next season.