Phil Mickelson makes incredible PGA Tour claim ahead of LIV Golf's team season finale

Phil Mickelson admits he no longer experiences "anxiousness" on LIV Golf like he did when he was competing on the PGA Tour. 

Mickelson, 55, believes there is a vast difference between his former playing days on the PGA Tour compared to his current time on the LIV Golf League. 

The six-time major champion made his feelings be known ahead of this week's LIV Golf Team Championship in Michigan, the final event of the season.

Mickelson was the first player to separate themselves from the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf operation in the summer of 2022.

It is estimated Mickelson accepted a fee in the region of $200m to join LIV Golf back then. 

He was then soon joined by the likes of former World No.1 and two-time major champion Dustin Johnson, for a similar fee. 

Mickelson's decision to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf followed months of controversy surrounding a shock interview he gave with golf biographer Alan Shipnuck. 

Fast forward more than three years, and Mickelson - who despite winning 45 times on PGA Tour and never on LIV Golf - admits he has loved every second of his four seasons on the breakaway league and would not change it for the world.

The big reason for that in the eyes of Mickelson is that he was a lot more anxious when going into PGA Tour events in comparison to LIV Golf today. 

Mickelson admitted there was "a lot of bs" that interfered with his love of the game while he competed on the PGA Tour. 

"I would just say that I used to have anxiousness going to a (PGA) Tour event with all the details and things that would go on," Mickelson admitted during his latest press conference.

"I would be anxious and not want to go. I'd go as late as I could.

"At a LIV event, I can't wait to get here. I come earlier. I can't wait to get here. 

"The experience from a player's standpoint, it's better than I could have ever imagined."

Mickelson then added on X / Twitter: "I could go into the details of everything I had to do for the tour, sponsors, fans, media and more and we could argue over details and such but you can’t argue with how I feel. 

"The love I have for the game was was being overshadowed by all the bs and I found myself dreading it. 

"On LIV I can’t wait get get here and it’s the same for every player out here. That’s a fact that is indisputable."

Mickelson is the captain of HyFlyers GC, who face Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC in Friday's Quarter-Finals of the LIV Team Championship. 

Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale and Andy Ogletree also currently play on Mickelson's HyFlyers GC. 

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