Major Champion Lanny Wadkins Criticizes Phil Mickelson's Involvement with LIV Golf
Date: 2023-09-16 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: SPORTS BETTING, PEOPLE
In the world of golf, Phil Mickelson's role in the creation of LIV Golf has stirred significant controversy over the past two years. Despite recent negotiations between the PGA Tour and the PIF, Mickelson continues to face criticism from various quarters.
One of the harshest criticisms has come from major champion and Ryder Cup veteran Lanny Wadkins during an interview with Golfweek. Wadkins expressed his disappointment with Mickelson, highlighting the problems, friction, and division he believes Mickelson has caused in the golfing community.
Wadkins didn't stop there; he also referenced Mickelson's well-known struggles with gambling, which were detailed in Billy Walters' book, "Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk." According to Wadkins, without golf, Mickelson might have found himself in dire straits due to his gambling habits.
This isn't the first time that Wadkins has publicly criticized Mickelson for his involvement with LIV Golf. In a previous appearance on Golf Channel, Wadkins labeled Mickelson as one of the most disappointing figures in golf, expressing concerns about the direction Mickelson's career has taken in recent years.
Wadkins, a 1977 PGA Championship winner and a participant in numerous U.S. Ryder Cup teams, even captained the U.S. team in 1995 during Mickelson's debut in the Ryder Cup as a player. Interestingly, the 2025 Ryder Cup is set to return to New York, where Mickelson enjoys strong support among golf fans.
For a while, it was speculated that Mickelson might be selected as the captain for the Bethpage Black event. However, according to Wadkins, Mickelson's actions in the last two years may have dashed those hopes, potentially paving the way for Tiger Woods to assume the captaincy instead.
One of the harshest criticisms has come from major champion and Ryder Cup veteran Lanny Wadkins during an interview with Golfweek. Wadkins expressed his disappointment with Mickelson, highlighting the problems, friction, and division he believes Mickelson has caused in the golfing community.
Wadkins didn't stop there; he also referenced Mickelson's well-known struggles with gambling, which were detailed in Billy Walters' book, "Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk." According to Wadkins, without golf, Mickelson might have found himself in dire straits due to his gambling habits.
This isn't the first time that Wadkins has publicly criticized Mickelson for his involvement with LIV Golf. In a previous appearance on Golf Channel, Wadkins labeled Mickelson as one of the most disappointing figures in golf, expressing concerns about the direction Mickelson's career has taken in recent years.
Wadkins, a 1977 PGA Championship winner and a participant in numerous U.S. Ryder Cup teams, even captained the U.S. team in 1995 during Mickelson's debut in the Ryder Cup as a player. Interestingly, the 2025 Ryder Cup is set to return to New York, where Mickelson enjoys strong support among golf fans.
For a while, it was speculated that Mickelson might be selected as the captain for the Bethpage Black event. However, according to Wadkins, Mickelson's actions in the last two years may have dashed those hopes, potentially paving the way for Tiger Woods to assume the captaincy instead.
