DUBLIN, Ohio — Jon Rahm shrugged when hearing Phil Mickelson’s name, which is surprising. It’s not often that one of golf’s most polarizing figures elicits a ho-hum response.
Then again, Rahm understands LIV Golf member Mickelson well enough to know the deal, that Lefty downgrading the PGA Tour on social media is playing the part of company man.
“Listen, Phil is a friend of mine, but what else is he going to say? Right?” the 2020 Memorial Tournament winner responded. “He’s obviously going to advocate for his side, and that’s perfectly fine.”
At issue is Mickelson’s recent Twitter post about how playing fewer events on the LIV tour allows players to be fresher for the majors.
“Love LIV or hate it, it’s the best way/Tour to be your best in the majors,” he tweeted. “Enough events to keep you sharp, fresh and ready, yet not be worn down from too many tournaments or obligations. 14 LIV events, 34 weeks left open to prepare for the 4 majors. Fact.”
Mickelson’s post came after LIV player Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship May 21 in Rochester, New York.
Rahm went on to set the record straight, at least as it applies to him.
“There’s many ways to prepare for a tournament,” he said. “I played 19 events last year … and don’t really feel any different about it. I have heard those comments about (LIV guys being more rested) and, well, if he believes it to be true, it’s good for him.
“I don’t know. It’s hard to say. There’s been so many different ways of tackling major tournament golf. Phil himself used to always play the week before. Tiger and Jack didn’t play the week before. So who says one way is better than the other?”
On the topic of the Ryder Cup, Rahm expressed dismay that fellow Spaniard and LIV member Sergio Garcia will not be part of Team Europe. The PGA of America has banned LIV golfers from competing in the match play event between the U.S. and Europe.
“I’m going to miss him. I’m going to mention history … a Spanish duo in the Ryder Cup is embedded into the roots of the Ryder Cup,” he said, mentioning the successful pairing of Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal. “So to me, it’s a little sad that politics have gotten in the way of such a beautiful event. It’s the best Europeans against the best Americans, period.
“Whatever is going on, who is playing LIV and who is not playing LIV, to me should not matter. And I have a hard time to believe that the best player Europe has ever had, the most successful player Europe has had on the Ryder Cup, isn’t fit to be on the team. But there’s a couple of Spanish guys playing really good right now, so hopefully they can join me on the team.”
Of course, the Ryder Cup has no cut. But Rahm is no fan of other tournaments following suit, which may be what happens if the tour has its way.
Early signs indicate that beginning in 2024 the Tour’s designated tournaments will be limited fields with no cut, meaning every player competes all four rounds instead of exiting after 36 holes if their score is not good enough.
Tiger Woods, who hosts the Genesis Invitational, wants his tournament to have a cut and thinks the elevated Memorial and Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill should have cuts, too.
Rahm agrees but didn’t always.
“I’ve gone back and forth on this issue,” he said. “First I was an advocate for no-cut. and the more time that’s gone by, I’ve become an advocate for a cut.”
What changed?
“You earn your way into the weekend and then you earn that win,” he said. “I mean, that Friday feel had a different type of feeling when I was fighting to make the cut. It’s a different type of pressure.”