‘LIV Signboard’ Mickelson ‘Lowering Posture at the Masters’

Humble Attitude in Golf Channel Interview
Skipping Par 3 Contest... "Many Improvements in Performance"

‘LIV flagship’ Phil Mickelson (USA) is in humble mode.

On the 4th (local time), Mickelson said in a brief interview with the Golf Channel at Augusta National Golf Club (par 72, 7,545 yards) in Augusta, Georgia, "Everyone at Augusta is uniformly high-level," adding, "It's enjoyable to be here at Augusta." When asked if it was awkward to meet the PGA Tour players with whom he had clashed fiercely since last year, he denied the conflict, saying, "We have been friends for a long time. There is no problem."

Phil Mickelson is warming up ahead in the Masters practice round. [Augusta (USA) - AP·Yonhap News]

Last year, during the launch of LIV Golf, Mickelson harshly criticized the PGA Tour and defended the Saudi Arabian government's human rights abuses, which funded LIV Golf, and faced heavy criticism, leading him not to participate in the Masters. He has returned to the Masters stage after two years.

Regarding the fact that ‘the gentleman of the field’ Fred Couples (USA) called him a ‘crazy person,’ Mickelson said, "I have been close friends with Couples for a long time and shared great experiences with him in golf matches," adding, "I hope there will be more opportunities to share such wonderful experiences in the future," cutting off further controversy.

About the promise by Greg Norman (Australia), the ‘head of LIV Golf,’ that "if an LIV Golf player wins, all other LIV Golf players will gather on the 18th hole green to celebrate the victory together," Mickelson dodged, saying, "I don’t know. I’ve never thought about that."

Mickelson also plans not to participate in the Par 3 contest held the day before the tournament. He said, "I will spend time sharpening my shots." He added, "If I felt my performance wasn’t what it used to be, I wouldn’t have come here," and continued, "Although my results have not been good lately, many things have improved. I will endure and wait for a turning point."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.