Phil Mickelson gives blunt response as LIV Golf player recruitment drive set to reignite

Phil Mickelson says more players are interested in signing for LIV Golf before 2025 (Image: Getty)

Phil Mickelson left fans guessing on Thursday when discussing the prospect of new talent being lured to LIV Golf during the off-season. The Team Championship at Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas this weekend will bring the campaign to a close, and the roster could look different by the time players reconvene in 2025.

Details on next season have been kept under wraps amid talks between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour over a deal which would eventually bring the two sets of players back together.

And Mickelson has not done much to give fans an insight into what next year may look like.

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Asked at the pre-tournament press conference in Dallas whether there has been a lot of interest in players joining LIV Golf ahead of the 2025 season, Mickelson said: "Yes." Asked if wanted to expand further, he bluntly replied: "No."

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The reluctant nature of Mickelson's responses sparked a frenzy of activity from fans trying to work out exactly what the American means. LIV Golf made a big statement by bringing Jon Rahm on board last year but there is less speculation about big-name stars defecting from the PGA Tour this time round.

"Phil has said this many times... AND NOTHING HAS COME OF IT [clown emojis]," wrote @LPaulson7 on X.

Jon Rahm was LIV Golf's statement recruit during the last off-season (Image: Getty)

Meanwhile @procaddiecoach added: "I'm sure there are a ton of 'players' that want to join LIV but from what level are we talking about? Phil is just being coy and trying to start rumors to strengthen his position."

And @silent_cal30 chimed in: "This is just another move in chess with many more moves to come."

Mickelson's comments fall in line with those of LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, who also insists there is no shortage of top players interested in ditching the PGA Tour.

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The likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are all part of Norman's series, which was successful in pinching players from the PGA Tour thanks, in no small part, to the mind-boggling money on offer.

Major champion Rahm was given a mammoth £225million signing bonus, with half of that paid up front. He is now set to win the £13.5m top prize for clinching the season points title, which a £3m victory at Chicago's Bolingbrook Golf Club last weekend helped him secure.