Phil Mickelson: 'I see LIV Golf trending upwards, I see the PGA Tour trending downwards'

Phil Mickelson had much to say on Thursday appearing before the media ahead of this week's LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. 

After jumping ship from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf earlier this year, Mickelson has been one of the leagues' most outspoken supporters. On Thursday, Mickelson continued to praise LIV Golf for their "inclusiveness" and their willingness to listen to players about essential issues like...having the ability to wear shorts. 

Mickelson also touched on more serious subjects, like how things have changed with the game of golf since he joined the upstart competitor of the PGA Tour. 

"For a long, long time, my 30 years on the PGA Tour, pretty much all the best players played on the PGA Tour, at least for the last 20 years. That will never be the case again," Mickelson said. "I think going forward, you have to pick a side. You have to pick which side you think is going to be successful. And I firmly believe that I'm on the winning side of how things are going to evolve and shape in the coming years in professional golf."

Mickelson believes LIV Golf is at the forefront of change and growth within the game and added that trend would continue as long as the league and PGA Tour remain at odds. 

"Until both sides sit down and have a conversation and work something out, both sides are going to continue to change and evolve," Mickelson said. "And I see LIV Golf trending upwards, I see the PGA Tour trending downwards, and I love the side that I'm on." 

That wasn't the only news Mickelson made on Thursday. Back in February, Mickelson apologized for "reckless" comments made regarding Saudi Arabia during an interview with biographer Alan Shipnuck. On Thursday, Mickelson not only denied making the comments but made the shocking claim to have not participated in an interview with Shipnuck at all.