Phil Mickelson Faces Backlash for Controversial Statement About LIV Golf, Ryder Cup

"I would love nothing more—one of my goals is to win a LIV event," Mickelson said. "The experience of sharing that with teammates, we have not yet won as a team. I've not ever won as a team in professional golf outside of the Ryder Cup, and even that was very few times. I think that would probably mean a little more, which is very unusual to say in a game that is such an individual sport, but that would be special for us."

While there is nothing controversial about stating the goal of winning as a team, where many golf fans are finding contention is with the comparison to the Ryder Cup, which has become one of the most prestigious and celebrated events in the golf world. 

The biennial golf competition between the USA and Europe is considered an honor to participate in, and golfer and and golf fans look forward to it as one of the predominant events in the schedule every other year. 

Nobody has played in more Ryder Cups than Mickelson, who participated in 12 events, but he has an overall losing record at 18-22-7 with 21.5 total points earned. 

Here's a look at how golf fans reacted to his comments about the Ryder Cup:

While players on the LIV Tour are unable to participate in PGA Tour events, they can play in most major championships and the Ryder Cup, should they be chosen by the captains to participate. 

With his recent play, it's unclear whether or not he will be invited to the Ryder Cup team in 2025, though it seems unlikely at this point.