Woods calls Mickelson comments 'polarising' as he takes aim at US PGA Championship crown

Tiger Woods has labelled Phil Mickelson’s controversial comments regarding the PGA Tour and the breakaway LIV Golf series as “polarising”, while the 15-time major champion says he “definitely” feels he can win the US PGA Championship this week.

Speaking to media on Tuesday ahead of the season’s second major at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which begins Thursday, Woods said he had not spoken to Mickelson since he announced an indefinite break from the game in February.

Mickelson will not defend his title this week having withdrawn from the event – last year’s victory at Kiawah Island, when aged 50, made him the oldest major champion in history – as the fallout continues from comments made public in February in which he said he was using the new Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf enterprise as leverage against the PGA Tour.

On Tuesday, Woods told reporters: "Phil has said some things that I think a lot of us who are committed to the tour, and committed to the legacy of the tour, have pushed back against. He has taken some personal time and we all understand that.

"But I think some of his views on how the tour could be run, should be run - been a lot of disagreement there. The viewpoints that Phil has made, with the tour and what the tour has meant to all of us, have been polarising.

"We miss him being out here. He's a big draw for the game of golf. He's just taking his time and we all wish him the best when he comes back. Obviously we're going to have difference of opinions - how he sees the tour - and we'll go from there."

Mickelson, a six-time major champion, sat out the Masters last month for the first time in 28 years. While his return to competitive golf has yet to be confirmed, the American is expected to