Phil Mickelson urges fans not to 'pile on' Rory McIlroy over LIV scorn - ESPN

The PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund haven't yet finalized a deal to combine their commercial assets, including the rival LIV Golf League, into a new for-profit entity that would reunify the fractured sport.

But the competing circuits' biggest stars seem to be warming up to each other after two years of nonstop bickering.

In response to PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy's comments that he was too judgmental of golfers who jumped to the LIV Golf League, LIV Golf captain Phil Mickelson urged fans not to «pile on» McIlroy and suggested it was time «to let go of our hostilities.»

«This quote and the many others made today by Rory probably weren't easy to say,» Mickelson wrote on his X account Wednesday. «Let's not use this as an opportunity to pile on. Rather, it's time for me and others to let go of our hostilities and work toward a positive future.»

Mickelson, one of the most outspoken critics of the PGA Tour during the circuits' battle for the best golfers in the world, suggested that the LIV Golf League's signing of reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm on Dec. 7 would help in unifying the two sides.

"[Rahm's] signing is turning into a bridge to bring both sides together, as evidenced by the many comments today and a month ago about changing the rules for the Ryder Cup so Jon and others can play, so let's use it as such," Mickelson said. «Until an agreement is reached it will be business as usual for both sides but hopefully without the needless disdain.»

Mickelson and McIlroy have traded barbs on social media over the past several months. After McIlroy missed the cut at the Masters and took a couple of weeks off to clear his head, Mickelson suggested on X that the LIV Golf League's limited schedule would be