Phil Mickelson Puts PGA Championship Field on Blast In Deleted Tweet

Phil Mickelson is trending on Twitter once again, but this time for a post that he quickly deleted. 

Mickelson has been quite active on the social media platform recently, as he’s been continually commenting on major championship qualifying criteria, particularly as it pertains to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league. 

As of now, LIV Golf events are not eligible for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, which means that the league’s players are gradually dropping in the standings. Unless they are otherwise exempt, the probability of some LIV golfers being invited back to the four major championships in future years is dwindling. To put it simply, professional golfers need OWGR points to get into the majors.

Plus, the USGA recently changed its U.S. Open qualifying criteria, leaving LIV’s Talor Gooch without a guaranteed spot at Los Angeles Country Club. 

The conversation about LIV and the majors resurfaced this week when the PGA Championship field was released by the PGA of America. Here’s where Mickelson’s deleted tweet comes in.

In the tweet, Mickelson points out that world No. 103 Cameron Tringale, No. 110 Jason Kokrak and No. 111 Sebastian Munoz—all LIV Golf members—were not invited to play at next week’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. 

Mickelson then writes that Beau Hossler, a PGA Tour member and No. 128 on the OWGR, was indeed invited. Traditionally, the PGA of America invites the top 100 players in the OWGR to the championship, but they can also include players of their choice. 

“3 years from now who is most likely to still be here? Monahan or LIV? We won’t forget. You too Whan,” Mickelson wrote, calling out both the commissioner of the PGA Tour (Jay Monahan) and the CEO of the USGA (Mike Whan).

Monahan and Whan are both board members of the OWGR, though Monahan has recused himself from the OWGR discussion as it pertains to LIV.

What Mickelson failed to mention, however, is that Paul Casey, another LIV golfer, was indeed included in the PGA Championship field despite being ranked 131st in the world. The invitation was likely a nod to his strong finish at the 2021 tournament and his inability to compete last year due to injury.