But that’s exactly what happened on Thursday when Mickelson gathered with reporters at Royal Portrush following an opening 70. Why? Well, if you don’t know the answer to that, then you’re not on Golf Twitter that much. (Good for you.)

Earlier in the week, YouTube golf star Grant Horvat announced he was declining a spot in this week’s PGA Tour opposite-field event, the Barracuda Championship. The reason? The tour wouldn’t allow his crew to film it. Here was his explanation:

Unfortunately I will not be playing in a PGA Tour event. The rules and regulations around PGA Tour tournament play will not allow us to film. The only reason I was in the position to receive an invitation like this is because of YouTube and you all watching the videos, so if I’m…

— Grant Horvat (@GrantHorvatGolf) July 15, 2025

This caused a LOT of drama on Twitter. Well, Golf Twitter. It’s just a blip compared to this CEO-HR person Coldplay concert PDA video. But really, this prompted a ton of responses, many of which were critical of Grant for turning down an opportunity that most can only dream of.

There were also many who came to Grant’s support as well as others who speculated Grant’s decision had been influenced by his golf video pal—and business partner—Mickelson. After all, it was the the six-time major champ who left for LIV Golf in part because of the PGA Tour’s policies regarding media rights.

Which leads us back to Thursday, when Mickelson was asked about the situation. And he addressed it. Sort of. Here was the exchange:

Q. What are your thoughts on the Grant Horvat situation? I know you guys are close and the PGA TOUR made that decision.

PHIL MICKELSON: I’ve really enjoyed playing my matches with Grant. He’s the nicest guy, and he’s been very helpful for me to kind of get into the YouTube space, a space that I don’t really know a lot about. I’m starting to learn — I’m learning from him. I’m learning from Bryson. They’ve been both very, very helpful.

Q. Do you think that’s a missed opportunity, though?

PHIL MICKELSON: I’m not going to go into the weeds on that. I just really like him.

OK then. It’s a bit surprising to see Phil play the role of Switzerland in this turf war, but there you have it. And, unfortunately, no one asked him for his thoughts on that whole CEO-HR person Coldplay concert PDA video. Maybe tomorrow.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Lauren Sopourn

The post Phil Mickelson addresses the Grant Horvat vs. PGA Tour situation (sort of) appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Someone [cough JOSH ALLEN cough] had switched their rangefinder to meters.

LIV Golfer plans DP World Tour return with busy Autumn schedule

Phil didn’t seem too amused by the ruse—which he admitted was his own invention—but that wasn’t enough to keep him on guard on Monday at LIV Duels Virginia, where he got got … again. Only this time it wasn’t the Allen who got him. It was own LIV colleague, Rahm, who lifted the trick play right out of the Bills QB’s playbook. Check it out.

Rahmbo really did it again #TheDuels #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/q7a63QjWc1

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) June 23, 2025

In the immortal words of Dubya, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice … you can’t get fooled again.

In Phil’s defence, he smelled something fishy much faster this time around and immediately identified Rahm as the culprit. Rahm initially played coy, saying, “Like I’m the only who plays meters here? We have three Europeans!” When Horvat found his rangefinder was also in meters, however, Rahm couldn’t hold it in any longer, doubling over in laughter.

Needless to say, if you’re looking for something a little fresher than the old fake-snake trick to pull on your buddies this summer, give this one a try—especially if they’re an old head like Phil and find adjusting their rangefinder as daunting as hacking the Pentagon. But stay vigilant out there. Practical jokes cut both ways, and it’s best to assume to you’re not the only one in your group that has seen this clip.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Ross Kinnaird

The post Watch Jon Rahm nail Phil Mickelson with rangefinder-to-meters prank … again appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The PGA Tour has suspended Wesley Bryan for participating in a LIV Golf influencer event. Ryan French of Monday Q was the first to report the story.

Bryan, 35, has made 134 starts on the PGA Tour, and won the 2017 RBC Heritage. However, since his rookie season, Bryan has not finished better than 156th in the FedEx Cup as he’s battled injury and the yips with his driver. He has played in three events in 2025, his last event coming in March’s Puerto Rico Classic, but does not have a tour card.

However, Bryan and his brother George have achieved a level of fame for creating a YouTube channel, with most of their videos featuring trick shots. Because of his dwindling playing status, Wesley has leaned into the content creation side of the industry, participating in two PGA Tour influencer events in the past year, including in March’s Player Championship. Many of those influencers additionally played in a similar event run by LIV Golf earlier this month at Doral, with both Wesley and George participating. George partnered with Sergio Garcia to win the nine-hole duel on the first hole of a playoff.

Since the advent of LIV Golf, PGA Tour members who compete at the Saudi-backed circuit have faced suspensions; the current rule stipulates a one-year suspension from a player’s last LIV event until they can return to the tour. However, YouTuber Grant Horvat—who also competed in the LIV Golf influencer event—announced this week he had received an invitation to compete in the summer’s Barracuda Championship.

The PGA Tour generally does not comment on suspensions. A tour source familiar with the matter told Golf Digest that Bryan was warned prior to his participation at the LIV event.

The PGA Tour and and LIV Golf’s financial backer, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, held discussions earlier this year regarding a potential re-unification of the professional game. But the negotiations broke down regarding a potential team element on the PGA Tour, PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan’s role in PGA Tour Enterprises and the assimilation of LIV defectors into tour competition. Earlier this month the tour rejected PIF’s latest $1.5 billion offer.

Main Image: Maddie Meyer

The post PGA Tour player suspended for participating in LIV Golf influencer event appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The stuff this guy can do doesn’t always make sense, but we’re grateful that one of the best golfers in the world is so open to some of the most bizarre challenges. Take it away, Bryson.

Bryson hits it 280 yards with a putter

@b_dechambeau on @GrantHorvatGolf pic.twitter.com/3Ya7daZUSh

— Ozzy° (@AussiZen) October 8, 2024

The idea behind the nearly 50-minute Horvat-DeChambeau showdown is that Bryson must use whatever club Siri recommends. A random number generation between 1-14 will pick every club for DeChambeau over the nine-hole stroke match, and it just so happens that DeChambeau had to take on the 591-yard par 4 with his putter.

For almost every other golfer in the world, a putter on a near 600-yard hole would be a death sentence. For DeChambeau, it’s a better drive than most of us could dream of. It also appears that Bryson hit it so hard that he bent his club.

“I just smoked that. I want to see how far I actually hit that,” DeChambeau says. “270, oh my gosh. Oh, it says 282 actually. That’s where it’s from.”

DeChambeau followed up the opening-shot putter with a driver off the deck from just over 300, a putter out of the rough and a driver to finish out the hole on the green. Real sicko stuff right there.

Spoiler alert: the two ended up playing an all-square match at one over until everyone realized they got the score wrong on the last hole and Bryson DeChambeau had actually won. Although to be fair, if you’re hitting it 280 yards off the tee with a putter, you’ve already won. Everything else is just gravy.

The post Bryson DeChambeau hits a putter off the tee 282 yards … because of course he does appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.