Jack Nicklaus doesn’t seem to think highly of Phil Mickelson’s career choices.
The 85-year-old, who along with Tom Watson and Gary Player was one of the honorary starters at The Masters on Thursday, was asked about where Mickelson and Tiger Woods are currently at in their careers.
Nicklaus made it sound like he doesn’t consider LIV Golf to be serious competition.
“I don’t know what level Phil’s competing at. I guess he’s still playing — he’s playing the LIV tour, isn’t he? I don’t know if he’s played or not,” Nicklaus said during a press conference. “You don’t know, you don’t see it anymore.”
Nicklaus did later concede that Mickelson has “been a good player, no question about that,” but he heaped much more praise on Woods, who tore his Achilles last month and is out indefinitely.
“I think Tiger will get well and Tiger will be back and playing,” Nicklaus said. “Tiger will be 50 next year. I believe he’ll probably play the senior tour and he’ll probably dominate the senior tour. Tiger’s too much of a competitor not to play. … I don’t think Tiger will play for money. He doesn’t need money.”
Several of golf’s biggest names, including Mickelson, bolted the PGA Tour for big LIV Golf paydays, with some reportedly getting nine-figure contracts from the Saudi-backed league.
The 54-year-old, a six-time major champion and three-time Masters winner, has played in four LIV events this year, most recently finishing in sixth at LIV’s Miami event after shooting 1-under.
Since Mickelson made a stunning Sunday run at the 2023 Masters to finish second, he’s missed the cut at four of his last seven major appearances and finished no better than tied for 43rd during that span.
He was off to a rough start Thursday at Augusta National for the 2025 Masters, sitting at 3-over through 11 holes.