Veteran golfer Phil Mickelson will be at the center of controversy this weekend at the US Open.
Last week, Mickelson and a few other big-named golfers spurned the PGA Tour when playing in the first LIV Golf tournament.
Mickelson’s jump to LIV was especially controversial given his comments about the Saudis who run the league earlier in the year.
On Monday, Phil Mickelson had to face the media, and spoke on all the criticism he’s been receiving.
“I respect and I understand their opinions,” Mickelson said Monday. “And I understand that they have strong feelings and strong emotions regarding this choice. And I certainly respect that.”
Phil Mickelson met with the media at a pre-U.S. Open press conference this afternoon. @BobHarig recaps what the six-time major champion had to say. https://t.co/J2LjNoBdzX
— SI Golf (@SI_Golf) June 13, 2022
Almost immediately, fans noticed that Phil Mickelson was visibly uncomfortable during the interview.
Phil Mickelson's worst press conference I can ever remember. He looked uncomfortable, sounded defensive, and said basically nothing. He looked like an extremely embarrassed guy trying not to seem embarrassed. Yikes.
— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) June 13, 2022
This Phil Mickelson press conference is uncomfortable to watch.
— Ben George (@thebengeorge) June 13, 2022
Phil Mickelson at the US Open presser today. pic.twitter.com/GxVN7gTh8A
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) June 13, 2022
Phil Mickelson visibly uncomfortable during LIV Golf grilling at US Open https://t.co/HA58EEK9kH pic.twitter.com/eY63untwjG
— New York Post (@nypost) June 13, 2022
Phil Mickelson looks incredibly uncomfortable up there. As he should.
— Rick 🇺🇦 (@therickwoodard) June 13, 2022
Phil Mickelson still hasn’t resigned from the PGA Tour like other members of LIV Golf.
“I’ve earned that lifetime membership, so I think it should be my choice,” he said.
To this day, the US Open is the one major that Phil Mickelson has never won, which means eyes would have been all over him this weekend anyways. But now, that spotlight will be magnified significantly.
It’ll be interesting to see how he handles it.
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