Report: Rory McIlroy and LIV Golf rival Phil Mickelson in mix-up at US Open!
According to reports, Rory McIlroy was scheduled to play a practice round with Phil Mickelson before the 2023 US Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
As far as gaffes go, this one was pretty special as Rory McIlroy was accidentally listed by the USGA to play a practice round with Phil Mickelson before the US Open.
It's fair to say there is absolutely no love lost between the pair, given that McIlroy, 34, 'still hates LIV Golf' even after it was announced the PGA Tour had struck a deal with the rival league's Saudi backers.
The game's biggest stars have been reacting to the news. Jon Rahm went in hard, describing a sense of betrayal. Cameron Smith thought it was a joke whereas Brooks Koepka revelled in the 'chaos'.
Related: Mickelson close to achieving $100m dream home
As for McIlroy, he cancelled his news conference, perhaps in the hopes that his silence will lead to a major breakthrough having not won one of the big four since the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Mickelson was never listed by the USGA to speak to the media before the major. Last year - a week after LIV Golf's inaugural event - Lefty resembled a rabbit in headlights as he faced a rabid media pack accusing him of sportswashing.
McIlroy appeared to be the one who started their 'beef' when he prematurely declared LIV Golf was 'dead in the water' after he criticised Lefty, describing his now-infamous remarks as 'naive, selfish, egotistical and ignorant'.
How times have changed and it appears 'sacrificial lamb' McIlroy has some egg on his face.
McIlroy did play a practice round Wednesday but not with Mickelson. Instead, according to reports, Mickelson played alongside fellow LIV Golf player David Puig.
Related: McIlroy makes big change to his bag ahead of US Open
Rory McIlroy on LIV Golf players: "We can't just welcome them back in"https://t.co/KedKtI2bAh pic.twitter.com/09jobtpcXN
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) June 7, 2023
Mickelson has never won the US Open. Of his 31 attempts, he has finish solo second or T-2 on six occasions. They are playing in San Diego this week at Los Angeles Country Club.
San Diego has been a venue that has treated him well, given that he's won 12 times here.
Despite becoming the oldest male golfer to ever win a major at the 2021 PGA Championship, Mickelson finds himself at huge odds to add to his haul this week.
McIlroy is one of the favourites, alongside the likes of Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Koepka.
Mickelson is playing alongside Padraig Harrington and Keegan Bradley over the first two rounds, while McIlroy is out with Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama.
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