Jon Rahm warns critics to lay off Phil Mickelson amid Saudi tour links

Jon Rahm says Phil Mickelson has ‘given his life to golf’ and believes the six-time major winner’s legacy will not be tarnished by his involvement in the Saudi-backed Super Golf League.

Mickelson, 51, has not featured competitively since playing the Saudi Invitational in February as he sought time away from the game after being ridiculed for supporting a breakaway tour led by former Open champion Greg Norman.

However, this week, Mickelson applied for an exemption to play in LIV Golf’s first event at the Centurion Club in St Albans in June which appears to signal his backing for the new tour still remains.

Rahm, the reigning US Open champion, thinks Mickelson’s critics should lay off the golfer and appreciate what he’s achieved in the sport.

He said: ‘I don’t think what’s happened recently should, or will, damage his legacy too much. That guy has given his life to golf and a lot of what we have and a lot of what we are competing on now is thanks to him.

‘A lot of people focus on Tiger (Woods), but he is easily in the top three best players in the world right now. We should recognise the guy has given his life to the public – nobody has done more for the fans or signed as many autographs.

‘I know he’s in a bit of a slump right now, for whatever that may be, but I don’t think his whole career or legacy should change because of a couple of comments.’

As well as announcing an interest to feature in LIV Golf’s inaugural event, Mickelson also registered to defend his title at the US PGA in May and play at the US Open in June.

That means Southern Hills, the host course of this year’s second major, is where fans may get the first glimpse of Mickelson since he was forced to apologise for comments made to a journalist where he