Phil Mickelson Controversy & LIV Golf First-Year Drama: How “Scary Motherf—ers” Changed Everything ⛳💰

Phil Mickelson’s infamous “scary motherf—ers” comment shook the golf world, but did it also change the trajectory of LIV Golf? 🤯 In this video, we dive deep into how Mickelson’s blunt remarks about the Saudi-backed league caused top PGA pros to reconsider joining, and how players like Lauri Canter seized the opportunity to rise in the ranks.

From Canter’s journey through the European Tour and Q School to earning millions in LIV Golf 💸, to Eddie Pepperell’s critique of money’s influence on modern golf, we cover all the drama, controversy, and behind-the-scenes revelations that shaped LIV Golf’s first year.

Discover:
✅ Why Mickelson’s comments scared away potential stars
✅ How Lauri Canter turned opportunity into a $6M career boost
✅ Eddie Pepperell’s thoughts on prize money and the state of professional golf
✅ The bigger picture: Legacy, money, and modern golf dynamics

Whether you’re a PGA Tour fan, a golf history buff, or just curious about the drama behind LIV Golf, this video breaks down all the truths and controversies you need to know. ⛳🔥

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Remember Phil Mikkelson and his infamous scary motherfirs comment about Elivy Golf. The statement revealed through Alan Shipnuk’s unauthorized biography on Mikkelson rocked the golf world. While Mickelson called the Saudis behind Elivy Golf scary motherfirs, he still chose to join the league. A move that ignited controversy and sparked endless debates about loyalty, money, and the integrity of professional golf. Although Mickelson’s legacy on the course remains legendary, the statement put a spotlight on Elivy Golf’s turbulent debut and questioned the league’s ability to attract top PGA Tour talent. Interestingly, the controversy may have directly impacted LIIV Golf’s recruitment during its first year. Former LIV pro Lorie Caner revealed on the Life on Tour podcast that Mickelson’s remarks scared off potential signes. I think the Phil Mickelson thing happened with the journalist. Being honest, I think a lot of the guys then pulled out and said, “I’ve got to move out,” Caner said. In other words, a large number of top players reconsidered joining the new Saudibacked league after Mickelson’s blunt comments went public. At the time, reports suggested that at least 50 top pros were ready to commit to LIIV Golf, including big names such as Bryson Dambo and Dustin Johnson. Mickelson’s controversy, however, reportedly stopped many from taking the leap. Ironically, Mikkelson himself was later banned from the PGA Tour for recruiting players to the winning side of LIIV Golf, adding further tension between the two tours. For LIIV Golf, the league needed players to jumpstart its inaugural season. That’s where Lorie Caner came into the picture. Ranked around the top 100 globally, Caner was among the professionals willing to join the fledgling league. Caner had spent years climbing through the lower tier tours, battling in Q school for separate times before finally breaking through in 2019. With $1.5 million earned over two and a half years on the European circuit, Alive Golf’s massive $25 million purse was impossible to ignore. Caner recalled his reaction to the offer. My agent phoned me and said, “There’s going to be a tournament at Centurion. It’s in six weeks. It’s $25 million and it’s three rounds of golf.” I was like, “What’s on the same week?” And you know, what are we playing? I said, “Definitely go and have a game.” Over the course of his Elivy golf career, Caner has earned approximately $6 million, a life-changing sum for a player who had long struggled to secure his place at the top level. Meanwhile, Mickelson later issued a public apology for his controversial remarks, calling them reckless and emphasizing that his intention was to support players in the sport, not to create controversy or damage reputations. Despite this, Caner maintains that the fallout from Mickelson’s statements reshaped Livy Golf’s initial recruitment strategy. In February on the SliceGolf podcast, he reiterated, “I think El Ivy had a lot of the top 50 guys ready to commit to play. Certainly some events.” Then the Phil Mickelson stuff happened and I think that changed things. The story doesn’t end there. English professional golfer Eddie Pepper has also spoken out about the wider implications of LIIV golf on the sport, focusing on how massive prize money has eroded the competitive integrity at the top of men’s golf. Regarding Mickelson, Peril described him as fascinating yet very disruptive. He pointed to Mikkelson’s image holding $10 million after beating Tiger Woods in a pay-per-view event in 2018 as emblematic of golf in 2025. “That may just be me, but that’s a shame because it’s eroded a lot of what else is good about the top of men’s professional golf,” Peril said. Peril went further, explaining that his own drive to reach peak performance has diminished due to the current state of professional golf and the dominance of money-driven decisions. The exposure the charade is spoton. That’s why in life sometimes some things are best left hidden even if the underlying motivations aren’t pure. He said despite the controversies and the hurdles in attracting top PGA talent, Eliv Golf succeeded financially. High-profile players including Mickelson, John Rom, Brooks Kepka, and Dustin Johnson signed nine figure deals to join the league. While Mickelson’s remarks may have prevented the league from signing even more stars, both he and Livy Golf emerged as winners in financial terms. Ultimately, the saga highlights the complex intersection of legacy, money, and professional ambition in modern golf. Mickelson’s blunt honesty, while controversial, shaped the narrative of LIIV Golf’s first year and left a lasting impression on the sport. Meanwhile, players like Caner illustrate how opportunity, timing, and risk-taking can redefine a career, showing that regardless of public opinion, sometimes calculated risks pay off. M.

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