LIV Golf

Amid his recent struggles, Phil Mickelson revealed he would be willing to stop competing for LIV Golf if he doesn't start playing at the level he's been used to over his legendary career.

The 54-year-old captain of the HyFlyers team has just one top-20 finish on the breakaway circuit in 2024 and has missed the cut at two of the four majors this year. Per ESPN, Mickelson said during a call previewing LIV's Sept. 13-15 Individual Championship at Bolingbrook Golf Club that his lackluster play has him considering stepping away for a bit.

"I see glimpses and my teammates see glimpses of me being where I expect to be able to compete at this level, but I'm also realistic with myself, and if I'm not able to I'll step aside and let somebody come on in and take the HyFlyers to new levels," he said on the call.

Mickelson was one of the first and most prominent golfers to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf in 2022 when he received a reported $200 million contract. The six-time major champion, who also owns an equity stake in the company, went on to add that he's comfortable taking some time away from the HyFlyers if it's beneficial to the team.

"I'm in every major on the regular tour next year, and I'll be in three of the four majors for the next six, seven years. I would love to compete and give myself a chance to win in those, and I also want to build this out and create a culture that is sustainable and that people strive to be a part of," he said. "How I do that, whether it's internally as a player and so forth, or whether it's strictly from the outside, I'm going to be intricately involved with the HyFlyers going forward probably the rest of my life, and then my playing career I'll be realistic where I'm at, too."

After being named captain of the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team, Keegan Bradley is hoping to put together a strong team and won't be focused on whether players are affiliated with the PGA Tour or LIV Golf.

"We're going to have the 12 best players on the team. I don't care where they play. We are on a mission to win at Bethpage," Bradley told reporters on Tuesday during his introductory press conference.

LIVE: Keegan Bradley introduced as 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain https://t.co/E16xiKlL4O

— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) July 9, 2024

The points system to qualify for spots on the U.S. Ryder Cup team will be determined when the 2025 PGA Tour schedule is finalized. There will be a number of automatic qualifiers and captain's picks to round out the team.

Bradley said on Tuesday that he only plans to play for the U.S. team if he qualifies on points and he won't make himself one of the captain's picks.

A six-time PGA Tour winner, Bradley was a surprising choice for team captain. James Corrigan of The Telegraph reported that Tiger Woods turned down the opportunity to captain the U.S. team, opening the door for Bradley to earn the spot.

Bradley added that he learned of his captaincy after the Travelers Championship last month, and he was just as surprised. Zach Johnson, who didn't pick Bradley for the 2023 Ryder Cup team, advocated for him to be given the title and delivered the unexpected news to him.

At 39 years old when the Ryder Cup begins next September at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, Bradley will be the youngest U.S. team captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

"My passion and appreciation for golf's greatest team event have never been stronger," Bradley said in a statement. "The Ryder Cup is unlike any other competition in our sport, and this edition will undoubtedly be particularly special given the rich history and enthusiastic spectators at this iconic course. I look forward to beginning preparations for 2025."

Rory McIlroy was clearly frustrated after coming up short against Bryson DeChambeau at the U.S. Open on Sunday, and he released a statement about the weekend on Monday.

His statement praised DeChambeau for being a "worthy champion" while also recognizing that the fourth round of the tournament was the "toughest" day he's had in his professional golf career.

"Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I've had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer," he said in the statement. "Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that."

He went on to reflect on his performance at the tournament and also said that he is planning to spend a few weeks away from golf to "process everything." The full statement from his X account can be read below:

pic.twitter.com/fD9NvqFXav

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 17, 2024

McIlroy has withdrawn from the Travelers Championship and will not golf again until the Scottish Open.

Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from @TravelersChamp and will make his next start @ScottishOpen. pic.twitter.com/28UEKZecyQ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 17, 2024

McIlroy had a strong performance for most of the weekend, starting the tournament with a five-under-par 65 in Round 1. He finished the weekend at five under, but that wasn't enough to beat DeChambeau, who finished six under to win his second U.S. Open.

McIlroy's collapse happened in the fourth round when he missed a pair of putts that ultimately cost him the win. He was leading the field on the 16th hole before missing a par putt that dropped his score to six under, putting him in a tie with DeChambeau.

RORY ALSO THREE-PUTTS 😮

McIlroy and DeChambeau are now tied at -6. pic.twitter.com/e9n8G9rRC5

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

McIlroy then missed a par putt on the final hole, leaving a window open for DeChambeau to take the lead.

😱 😱 😱 😱

RORY MISSES ON 18.

Bryson can win the U.S. Open with a par on 18. pic.twitter.com/lSk0ZzzZK2

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

To DeChambeau's defense, he didn't just get lucky with McIlroy missing a pair of putts. He managed to hit a miraculous shot from the bunker on the 18th hole, leaving him a short putt away from his eventual win.

THE BUNKER SHOT OF HIS CAREER!

@b_dechambeau has this putt left to win the U.S. Open! pic.twitter.com/Vleb6k6PvO

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

For McIlroy, the bad breaks down the back stretch combined with not having won a major in 10 years led to a frustrating weekend overall. Shortly after DeChambeau's win, McIlroy was seen swiftly leaving the clubhouse.

As he said in his statement, though, McIlroy feels "closer to winning" his next major than he ever has, and he'll get the chance to do so next month at The Open Championship.

Bryson DeChambeau found himself in a tricky spot on the 18th hole during the U.S. Open on Sunday.

The golfer landed himself in the bunker while holding a narrow lead over Rory McIlroy. DeChambeau then hit a near-perfect up-and-down from 55 yards to lay the ball just outside of the hole, tapping it in for his second win at the U.S. Open.

Up-and-down from 55 yards for the @USOpenGolf title.

Bryson DeChambeau is now a two-time major champion 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wP91kSBXGa

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 16, 2024

Per ESPN's Mark Schlabach, DeChambeau admitted that it was one of his best ever.

"I can't believe that up and down on the last," DeChambeau said. "Probably the best shot of my life."

Along with DeChambeau's outstanding shot from the bunker, he got a little bit of help from McIlroy, who missed a short putt from four feet away that would have been par. While DeChambeau might have gotten a break from McIlroy, it was still an unbelievable shot.

It wasn't DeChambeau's best day of golf, as he carded a one-over-par 70 in the final round. However, it was enough for him to walk away with a win. His best rounds of the weekend came on Thursday and Saturday as he notched a three-under-par each of those days. On Sunday, he carded three bogies and a pair of birdies.

The win gives DeChambeau his second win at the U.S. Open, with his other win coming in 2020. It was also his first major win of the 2024 season after he finished in second place at the Masters.

Bryson DeChambeau isn't letting an injury slow him down at the U.S. Open.

The golfer currently leads the field at Pinehurst by three strokes, and has accomplished this despite suffering from a hip injury that has been a consistent presence for him.

"Yeah, it was tougher to get through on a couple shots," DeChambeau said, per Mark Schlabach of ESPN. "It's OK. I've had it for a long time now. It's just something that popped up. I've just been pushing myself a little bit, pushing the horse a bit. Consequently, that's going to happen. But I've got a great team around me to help fix some stuff up."

---

The issue became noticeable when DeChambeau asked a USGA official to send for his physcal therapist when he was on the ninth hole. This was a result of tightness in his right hip, and he would get stretched out in the woods.

He is currently at seven-under and shot a 67 during Saturday's action. He is the only golfer at the tournament that has broken 70 in all three rounds and one of just eight participants who are under par heading into the final round.

He will tee off alongside Matthieu Pavon in the final group on Sunday. He will look to capture his second U.S. Open victory.

Rory McIlroy wishes he would have taken a step back in the past when it came to the divide between the PGA Tour and LIV.

"In hindsight, I wish I hadn't gotten as deeply involved in it, and I've articulated that," McIlroy said Wednesday, per Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated. "I hold no grudge, I hold no resentment over the guys that chose to go and play on LIV. Everyone's got their own decisions to make and everyone is, has the right to make those decisions.

"My whole thing is I'm just disappointed to what it's done to—not to the game of golf, the game of golf will be fine—but men's professional golf and this sort of divide we have at the minute."

When LIV was initially created and took some notable names from the PGA Tour, few if any were as outspoken about it as McIlory.

Whether it was saying he hated the league so much he'd rather retire than join it or leading a 2022 meeting alongside Tiger Woods and with other PGA Tour players attempting to combat LIV's influence, he was one of the public faces of the divide.

However, he has softened his position of late and even said in January was "too judgmental" of those players who left the PGA Tour for LIV.

Still, he pushed back on rumors that he would join LIV on a $850 million deal when he told Golf Channel's Todd Lewis last month he will remain on the PGA Tour for the remainder of his career:

Rory McIlroy didn’t mince words to @ToddLewisGC about his commitment to the PGA TOUR.

More on this at 5 p.m. ET on @GCGolfToday. pic.twitter.com/WqB6MffhzX

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 16, 2024

While Harig noted that McIlroy resigned from his position as a player-director on the PGA Tour Policy Board last November and was "rebuffed by other board members" when he was looking to potentially return, he is still part of a group with Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan that is engaged in ongoing negotiations about potentially entering an agreement to merge with LIV down the line.

"Hopefully, we're on a path to sorting that out and getting that to come back together," he said. "I mean, in hindsight, hindsight's always 20/20, but in hindsight I wish I hadn't had gotten as deeply involved as I have."

The major drought is over for Xander Schauffele.

He had finished as the runner-up at The Masters and The Open Championship in the past and secured a top-three finish in the U.S. Open in 2019, but the elusive major victory had not yet been in his grasp. That ended Sunday when he secured a win at the 2024 PGA Championship with a final score of 21 under.

X marks a major spot on his resume 🏆@XSchauffele has won the @PGAChampionship! pic.twitter.com/GLfpqkv95U

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 19, 2024

Your 2024 PGA Champion, Xander Schauffele! 🏆#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/wuzKyjnVi2

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 19, 2024

Schauffele needed to weather some drama to secure the victory as he entered the final hole in a tie for first with Bryson DeChambeau. Schauffele needed a birdie on 18 in order to avoid the playoff round, and his fate came down to a six-foot putt.

Faced with that challenge, Schauffele was on the money.

The putt that made Xander Schauffele a PGA Champion! 🏆#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/SjBehodFWu

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 19, 2024

Schauffele shot a 65 on the day, with birdies on holes 1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 18. His only blemish was a bogey on the 10th hole.

Fans took to social media to praise Schauffele:

Xander!!!!! Good for him!#PGAChampionship

— Rusty Udy (@rusman1981) May 19, 2024

SCHAUFFELE with his first!!! So cool 🏌🏽‍♂️

— Jessica Landsberg (@jlandsberg12) May 19, 2024

XANDER SCHAUFFELE MAJOR CHAMPION

— Analytics Capper (@AnalyticsCapper) May 19, 2024

Soak it in, Xander. pic.twitter.com/Tk0dpojj59

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 19, 2024

What a finish - congratulations to Xander Schauffele, shot 65 on a Sunday and made the putt he needed on the last.

Classy by DeChambeau at the end.

Unforgettable #PGA, for all sorts of reasons, not all of them good. But in the end, X was great.

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) May 19, 2024

2 great redemption stories at the PGA Championship. Xander was finally able to get it done when it mattered most and Bryson is beloved by the fans. Feel good all around. What a drama packed, incredible major!

— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) May 19, 2024

That bogey on the par-5 10th was gut-check time for Xander. Responded with a dart at 11. Birdie. A super aggressive second shot to a back-right pin on 12. Birdie it. Up and down on 17. Ballsy ass second shot on 18 to set up the up and down of his life. Earned it with a capital E.

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) May 19, 2024

Xander Schauffele: -21, best score to par in major championship history

Schauffele is the first player to shoot 62 in a major and go on to win that week.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 19, 2024

big moment for Xander Schauffele...

— Jorge B (@jorgebdamian) May 19, 2024

https://twitter.com/TD2timeMVP/status/1792332226543374415

Long time coming. Congrats
Xander Schauffele you are a Major Champion. That Wanamaker trophy is one of the best. #PGATOUR

— Jock Ewing (@FaxelLofey) May 19, 2024

Much deserved major win for Xander Schauffele! You knew it was coming with the way he has played this year, you just wondered if he had the sand. Very much deserved!

— BulGolgi Apparatus (@YelahElyk) May 19, 2024

Schauffele took home $3.3 million with the victory. It was his 10th professional win, and the 30-year-old will hope he can carry the momentum into more success this year.

Rory McIlroy's optimism about a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is beginning to wane.

The four-time major champion pointed toward Jimmy Dunne's resignation from the tour's policy as a step backward, calling it "a huge loss for the PGA Tour."

"It's really, really disappointing, and you know, I think the tour is in a worse place because of it," he said, per ESPN's Mark Schlabach. "We'll see. We'll see where it goes from here, and we'll see what happens. But you know, I would say my confidence level on something getting done before last week was, you know, as low as it had been. And then with this news of Jimmy resigning and knowing the relationship he has with the other side, and how much warmth there is from the other side, it's concerning."

"The Tour is in a worse place because of it."

Rory McIlroy shares his thoughts on Jimmy Dunne's resignation from the PGA Tour policy board. pic.twitter.com/NWmdeCyUB0

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) May 15, 2024

It looked like the rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf was nearing an end when the two sides agreed to a tentative merger in June 2023. However, the partnership is no closer to being a reality in the nearly 12 months since.

Dunne painted a bleak picture in his resignation, writing that "no meaningful progress has been made towards a transaction with PIF," per Sports Illustrated's Michael Rosenberg. He also cited the fact "players now outnumber the Independent Directors on the board" as a reason for his exit.

Speaking on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio show, Lucas Glover raised concerns with players gaining more influence on the policy board as well. He succinctly said this situation is showing "we have no business having the majority."

"They don't tell us how to hit 7 irons. We shouldn't be telling them how to run a business."

Lucas Glover reacts to the news that Jimmy Dunne has stepped away from the PGA TOUR policy board.

Hear the latest episode of the Lucas Glover Show with the SiriusXM App. pic.twitter.com/KOzERTCRdE

— SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio (@SiriusXMPGATOUR) May 15, 2024

When the battle lines were first drawn between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, no golfer arguably carried the tour banner more than McIlroy. He was the most visible face on the PGA Tour and beyond that defiant in his anti-LIV stance.

The 35-year-old subsequently walked back some of his earlier opinions and said he was "maybe a little judgmental of the guys" who jumped ship. In addition, he credited LIV Golf with indirectly pointing to ways the PGA Tour could improve.

His most recent comments will likely have some wondering whether McIlroy is inching closer toward doing what was previously unthinkable and leaving the tour behind.

The sport of golf will now have its own trade deadline.

LIV Golf announced Wednesday teams will have the option to trade golfers from now until June 9. The series is also introducing the option for golfers on expiring contracts to sign extensions with their current team.

The LIV Golf League Mid-Season Trading Window Now Open 🤝

Learn more about the first-ever mid-season trading window in professional golf👇 #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/5xFPjt0mzF

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) May 8, 2024

"As LIV Golf grows, the League will continue to establish opportunities to strengthen the competition. By opening a trade window midway through the season, all 13 teams have an opportunity to fine-tune their rosters and assess their team's composition and performance," LIV CEO Greg Norman said.

"LIV Golf is delivering another exciting opportunity for professional golf that aligns with the traditions of many team sports around the globe, promoting strategic player moves and enriched team storylines."

This is a natural next step for the team-based concept LIV Golf introduced upon its inception.

Captains previously had the chance to augment their squads during the offseason, with the first major swaps unfolding this winter. Now, underachieving teams can make improvements midway through the campaign in an effort to turn things around.

Crushers GC, captained by Bryson DeChambeau, sits first in LIV's team standings with 105.5 points through seven events. Jon Rahm-led Legion XIII is in second with 94 points.

The field for the 2024 PGA Championship was revealed on Tuesday, and there will be multiple stars competing at Valhalla Golf Club when the tournament takes place from May 16-19.

Past winners Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy headline the talented field along with reigning PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka. The entire field can be found here.

The best field in golf is coming to Valhalla! 👀#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/rrdDO2l8Ma

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 1, 2024

The field at the 2024 PGA Championship will include 16 previous winners of the tournament and 33 major champions. There are still two spots available for the winners of this week's Wells Fargo Championship and Myrtle Beach Classic.

This will be the fourth time that the PGA Championship is played at Valhalla, and that bodes well for the veterans. The last two PGA Championships held at Valhalla were won by Woods (2000) and McIlroy (2014). Woods reportedly plans to visit Valhalla prior to the tournament to scout the course.

Woods is a four-time PGA Championship winner, most recently winning the tournament in 2007. His participation in this year's event, which is just his third competitive tournament of 2024, is part of his plan to play once a month while he works through the physical limitations that have plagued him since his devastating car crash in 2021.

"I have the next three months--three majors--and hopefully that works out," Woods said earlier this month.

The 48-year-old has already accepted a special exemption to play in the 2024 U.S. Open, which will be held at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in North Carolina on June 13-16. He is also hoping to play the British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland in July.

If Woods can achieve his goal, it will be his first time playing in all four majors since 2019.