Phil Mickelson calls for peace in bitter LIV Golf-PGA Tour feud, insisting Jon Rahm's move to Saudi breakout could be a 'bridge to bring both sides together'

Phil Mickelson took on the role of peacemaker Thursday as he called for an end to the “unnecessary disrespect” between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf in response to Rory McIlroy's change of heart.

McIlroy, 34, the PGA Tour's most outspoken supporter who previously expressed his “hatred” of LIV Golf, admitted earlier this week that the rise of the rebel circuit had helped expose flaws in the golf system.

The PGA Tour figurehead's comments were a stark contrast to his previous criticism of LIV Golf and some fans even claimed it validated Mickelson's arguments.

But Mickelson, 53, took a fair approach to the four-time major winner's turnaround, calling for peace rather than his own validation as he argued Jon Rahm's defection could finally bring the warring sides together.

“This quote and the many others Rory made today were probably not easy to say,” Mickelson wrote, quoting a post of McIlroy's comments.

Rory McIlroy admitted he regretted being so judgmental of LIV Golf's rebels this week

Mickelson responded to McIlroy's comments, calling for an end to the 'unnecessary disrespect'

“Let's not use this as an opportunity to move on. On the contrary, it is time for me and others to let go of our hostilities and work towards a positive future.

The signing of 'Rahms' is turning into a bridge to bring both sides together, as evidenced by the many comments today and a month ago about changing the Ryder Cup rules to allow Jon and others to play, so let's we use it as such.

“Until an agreement is reached, it will be business as usual for both sides, but hopefully without unnecessary disrespect.”

Rahm became the league's biggest coup yet when he shockingly quit the PGA Tour last month in a reported $500 million deal.

The Spaniard's defection has dramatically softened McIlroy's anti-LIV stance in recent weeks, since the 2014 Open champion claimed Rebels would be allowed to play in the 2025 Ryder Cup, despite his earlier insistence that they should be excluded and not could be missed in Rome.

McIlroy also admitted earlier this week that he may have been too judgmental about the players who defected to the Saudi-backed breakaway.

“I think at this point I may have been a little bit judgmental about the guys who went to LIV golf in the beginning, and I think it was a bit of an oversight on my part because I now realize that not everyone in my position is either in Tiger Wood's position.' He said on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky bet.

“We all became professionals to make a living from the sports we play, and I think that's what I've realized over the past two years.

Jon Rahm shockingly left the PGA Tour last month in a $500 million deal

Mickelson, 53, claimed the Masters champion's defection could be a “bridge.”

“I can't judge people for making that decision, so if I have any regrets, it was probably too judgmental to begin with.”

The tweet marks a major turnaround for the southpaw who has previously exchanged bitter shots with the Northern Irishman.

After this year's Masters, Mickelson joked about the Northern Irishman's struggles with his swing and claimed he might enjoy competing in LIV Golf's much less intense schedule, but added: “I Don't think there's any team that would want him on because they'd have to deal with all his BS.'

He also took a sly swipe at McIlroy and Tiger Woods when he claimed his relationships, which would be affected by his defection, were “not that close after all.”

However, McIlroy has not been innocent in the feud either, as he has given equally brutal responses to Mickelson's mockery.

Mickelson took a swing at McIlroy after the Northern Irishman had problems with his swing

Tiger Woods and McIlroy are among LIV Golf's most outspoken critics

He was especially orphans heard say: 'F*** you Phil' during the Netflix documentary Full Swing.

McIlroy was asked about allegations that Mickelson bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup at the FedEx St Jude Championship last August. He responded with a mischievous smile: “At least he can bet on the Ryder Cup this year, because he won't be part of that.”

Mickelson and McIlroy's apparent ceasefire comes as the PGA Tour and LIV Golf's backers, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, continue negotiations to reach an agreement on their 'merger'.

The two sides missed the original December 31 deadline, which was set out in the framework agreement that would essentially bring together the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf under one umbrella.

However, according to The Telegraph, a deal has not yet completely collapsed with a new end point of April, before The Masters.

McIlroy responded brutally to claims Mickelson tried to bet on the Ryder Cup

The deadline for negotiations between the PGA Tour (left, Commissioner Jay Monahan) and LIV Golf and PIF (right, Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan) has reportedly been postponed

In July 2023, US Senate hearings on the PGA Tour-PIF partnership revealed a “non-disparagement clause” in the framework agreement that would prevent the Tour from making “defamatory or disparaging” comments about Saudi Arabia, its state of human rights and allegations of sports washing.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal persistently pressured Ron Price, the PGA Tour's COO, and Jimmy Dunne – who negotiated the deal – over whether players would be punished if they spoke out against Saudi Arabia.

“I can tell you that under the framework agreement the players are absolutely free to express their views,” Price responded.

Whether the apparent truce between McIlroy and Mickelson is the result of efforts to reduce acrimony in hopes of reaching an agreement more quickly, however, remains to be seen.