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The year 2023 saw some major developments in golf including the Ryder Cup. As Team USA suffered a crushing loss to their rivals, the talks about their next captain had already started. Veteran Phil Mickelson found his name in the mix to lead the team. He has now dismissed this conversation.

Team USA had a poor start on the first day. Despite their bounce back on days two and three, the damage was already done. This defeat led to huge criticism regarding the tactics of Zach Johnson.

Following this, the names of Tiger Woods and Mickelson emerged as top candidates to succeed Johnson at Bethpage in 2025. The HyFlyers GC captain has denied these talks and blames a lot of “hostilities‘ from players as a reason for this decision.

After his move to LIV Golf, the 45-time PGA Tour has been slammed by many for his switch. He would point this out as a reason to not captain the team while talking with Pat McAfee on the Pat McAfee Show.

I don't feel I'm the right guy to be involved with the team because I'm a very divisive character right now, I understand the players on the PGA Tour, there's a lot of hostilities toward me. Phil Mickelson on becoming Ryder Cup Captain at Pat McAfee Show.

The Ryder Cup event will now head to New York where Team USA will be hoping to avenge their 2023 loss. Team Europe on the other hand will be led by Luke Donald once again and would be hoping for back-to-back triumphs in 2025.

Phil Mickelson explains why LIV Golf is not going anywhere

The golf merger announcement in June 2023 left the fans wondering about the future of the sport and LIV Golf. The Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) backed tour seemed in danger of vanishing. Fast forward to January 2024, and the 54-hole circuit is going strong.

Phil Mickelson, one of the prominent members of LIV Golf, has now explained why the breakaway tour will not be going away any time soon. The golfer expressed the signing of Jon Rahm as the reason for his claim.

Rahm was one of the biggest names on the PGA Tour and had previously slammed LIV. He had even criticized the format of the league back then. However, the two-time major champion stunned the golfing world when he joined LIV Golf on a $600 million deal.

Mickelson has now claimed that the Spanish golfer’s signing works as a bridge between the two tours.

With Jon Rahm signing on, what it’s done is create a bridge and an opportunity for us to come together...this is a bridge that is now opening those conversations to start working together. Phil Mickelson as a part of his answer on Pat McAfee Show.

This is also not the first time where Mickelson had called his move of Rahm as a “bridge” to rebuild the broken relationships. Following Rory McIlroy‘s shocking reveal on LIV Golf, the six-time major champion urged the fans to not pile the pressure on him and extended his hand to work together.

With the new season of LIV Golf less than a month away, there is still no confirmation on which team will Rahm play. There have been reports which claim that the 29-year-old will lead his own team. Fans are now eager to see what will happen when Rahm tees off on LIV Golf for the first time in February.

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