“Let’s all be patient,” Phil Mickelson urges fans to maintain patience regarding PGA-PIF merger as deadline extension causes huge outrage

The PGA-PIF merger talks have been extended until April due to the slow progress over the past few months.

“Let’s all be patient,” Phil Mickelson urges fans to maintain patience regarding PGA-PIF merger as deadline extension causes huge outrage

Phil Mickelson (Image via NBC News)

The last day of the year 2023 was seen as the last date of the golf merger to go through. However, as there was very little progress, the deadline for the PGA-PIF merger to reach a definitive agreement was extended. This left several fans annoyed on social media. 45-time PGA Tour winner, Phil Mickelson has now urged the fans to maintain patience on this.

The veteran golfer who has been one of the big names of the LIV Golf, took to his X account for this. Several social media users were not pleased to see the date being extended as earlier reports claimed that the two entities would reach an agreement way before December 31.

YouTube video

Renowned sports personality Joe Pompliano was one of them. He would call this latest extension a “bummer for golf“. The host of the Joe Pump Show also argued about how the experience had been exhausting for several fans.

FS Video

Mickelson would reply to this and claim he understood how Pompliano felt. Pointing out his “average fan” point, the HyFlyers GC captain confidently claimed that these same fans will get to see the best players in action once the deal is done.

I understand what you are saying. However, when it is all said and done, the average fan will see all the best players compete against each other way more often than before AND throughout the world. Sponsors will know what it is they are buying and everyone will end up ahead. Let’s all be patient.
Phil Mickelson to Joe Pompliano on the merger talks through X.

Joe Pompliano throws serious questions at Phil Mickelson regarding the merger and LIV Golf’s future

The announcement of the merger in June 2023 saw the golf world erupt. The coming together of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf was not something many had dreamt of. This announcement raised several questions regarding the future of LIV Golf.

Phil Mickelson himself has defended the tour on several occasions and placed his confidence in the future of his league. He though has once again found himself trying to answer this as Joe Pompliano threw some serious questions on him.

Joe Pompliano and Phil Mickelson
Joe Pompliano (L) and Phil Mickelson (R) [Image via X/The Seattle Times)

Pompliano was unpleased with the merger talks being extended and took to his X account to show his dissatisfaction. His tweet was entertained by Mickelson who urged him and others to show some patience. He would later reply to Mickelson’s tweet and ask him why the merger was taking so long and what would happen if the talks failed to progress.

Question @PhilMickelson: What do you think is holding up the merger? And if it doesn’t happen, can LIV be a financially viable product in the long run?
Joe Pompliano asking Phil Mickelson questions about LIV Golf on X.

The LIV Golf is currently backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. This has annoyed several fans and golfers as the Saudis have been accused of throwing lots of money to lure PGA Tour stars away to the breakaway circuit.

The move of Jon Rahm on a mega $600 million deal has also not gone down well among fans. However, LIV Golf is more than confident in its future as CEO Greg Norman has already started planning for future events.

In case you missed it: