'Here's a hot take!' Phil Mickelson makes bold Scottie Scheffler prediction before Ryder Cup

LIV Golf's Phil Mickelson believes Joaquin Niemann is the best player in the world right now - and not PGA Tour superstar Scottie Scheffler.

In fact, Mickelson, 54, goes even further and thinks runaway World No.1 Scheffler, 28, won't even win a single PGA Tour title before the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

Mickelson made his feelings be known on X / Twitter during the final round of The Players Championship at famed TPC Sawgrass. 

The six-time major champion made his first claim in a response to Torque GC's latest post after their captain Niemann, 26, won his fourth LIV Golf title in Singapore earlier on Sunday.

"Joaquín Niemann has got to be a top 5 player in the world right now. Currently sits at the top of the leaderboard in Singapore for his 2 win of the season and 4th in @livgolf_league," tweeted Torque GC's X account. 

Six-time major champion Mickelson replied: "Top 5? Try #1."

For the record, Niemann is ranked 81st in the Official World Golf Rankings as it stands.

Of course, Niemann has been unable to pick up valuable OWGR points as a result of LIV Golf League events remaining shut out of receiving points.

Niemann has won two of the last three LIV Golf League events following victories in Adelaide and Singapore. 

But if Mickelson's comment wasn't controversial enough, he went further by claiming Scheffler won't win a single PGA Tour title until at least the 2025 Ryder Cup from 26-28 September in New York.

Scheffler won nine times around the world in 2024 but he has yet to register a victory so far in 2025. 

The reigning FedEx Cup champion and two-time Masters champion is currently ranked just inside the top 20 with a few holes to play in the final round of The Players Championship.

Scheffler has only been able to play in five PGA Tour events so far this season.

The American's season was delayed after requiring surgery when badly cutting the palm of his right hand on a broken wine glass at Christmas.

Scheffler finished T9 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and he ended up T25 at the WM Phoenix Open.

He then registered a T3 at Tiger Woods' Genesis Invitational a week later before finishing T11 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

But despite those early-season results, Mickelson is not convinced Scheffler will get back on the victory ladder within the next six months. 

Scroll down for Lefty's controversial take...

In response to CBS Sports analyst and 2008 Masters champion Immelman on X / Twitter. Mickelson tweeted: "Here’s a hot take Does Scottie win in 2025 before the Ryder Cup? I don’t think so." 

When pushed further by NUCLR Golf on his controversial opinion about Scheffler, Mickelson somewhat backtracked: "Lighten up everyone Just having a little fun."