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phil mickelson

Phil Mickelson accuses USGA of ‘direct attack’ over US Open spot

Phil Mickelson has directed his latest Twitter attack at the CEO of the United States Golf Association and his comments regarding Talor Gooch’s ineligibility for the US Open

 

Phil Mickelson used some colourful language to describe the USGA’s decision to alter eligibility criteria for the US Open.

In February, the USGA tweaked the exemption concerning the top 30 players who reached the Tour Championship in 2022. This point now only concerns those who were eligible to play at East Lake too.

A direct casualty of this alteration was Talor Gooch who gave up his chance to play in the Tour Championship by signing with LIV Golf.

“Any time we make changes to our criteria going forward it impacts somebody and that stinks, but we can only look forward,” USGA CEO Mike Whan has since told Golf Channel.

“I hope (Gooch) gets in, but we’re not going to change our criteria and I’m not concerned about the quality of the US Open field.

“Just like I said at last year’s US Open, I don’t do 45 background checks on which tour you came from or who is your sponsor, if you’re good enough to get into our field we let you play.”

Mickelson isn’t buying this though.

He recently waged a war of words on Twitter concerning the Official World Golf Rankings, and he posted another comment on the platform aimed at Whan himself:

“Hey Mike, what about changing a rule and making it retroactive to exclude someone who has already qualified? How can Talor Gooch not take that personal? It’s a direct attack on him and his career. How does it benefit the USGA or US Open? It doesn’t. Just a d!*k move.”

Gooch, who has won the last two LIV Golf events in Adelaide and Singapore, currently has spots at the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.

He didn’t file an entry into the US Open, so the only possible route to Los Angeles Golf Club for him will be his world ranking, which is currently 60.

He will need to stay in the top 60 by May 22 if he is to play in the third men’s major of the year, but this could prove tricky as LIV Golf still doesn’t have OWGR status.

As for Mickelson, he is exempt to play in the US Open until 2025 – a tournament he has finished runner-up six times.

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NOW READ: Has the US Open moved the goalposts to stop LIV players from participating?

Matt Chivers

Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.

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