Phil Mickelson 'didn't say a word' at The Masters special event as legendary golfer ponders the reason why

Phil Mickelson has altered his approach at the Masters Champions Dinner, after avoiding interaction with his PGA Tour rival. It was noted that Mickelson 'didn't say a word' during Tuesday's Masters Champions Dinner at Augusta National, where he was reunited with several of his PGA Tour competitors.

Among those attending the Augusta dinner on Tuesday were numerous LIV stars, including defending champion and host Jon Rahm. The annual dinner is traditionally hosted by the previous year's champion, with Rahm taking over this year following his victory 12 months ago.

Champions from throughout the tournament's illustrious history gathered to celebrate the Spanish star's success, and one long-time attendee is Rahm's LIV colleague Mickelson. Mickelson first earned his place at the table in 2004 after winning his first green jacket, and subsequently added two more to his collection in 2006 and 2010. Over the years, 'Lefty' has often been the life of the party, according to several of his fellow champions.

However, this time things seemed different. Mickelson has been at the heart of the dispute between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf in recent years, having led the initial move to the Saudi-backed league in 2022, reports the Mirror. Tuesday saw him reunite with his Tour rivals, and according to Sir Nick Faldo, the American was far less chatty than usual. During his commentary for Sky Sports on Thursday, Faldo remarked: "Phil was very quiet on Tuesday, he didn't say a word. He was dead quiet, standing next to me. I wonder why."

The Englishman's comments may have been in reference to his views on the LIV setup, of which he has previously been critical. Last summer, Faldo expressed doubts about the future of LIV after it was announced