After being heckled by a fan in Thursday's opening round at the US Open, LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson responded in best way possible thanks to his trademark impressive short game.
Heading into this week's major championship, the majority of the focus remained on the groundbreaking agreement signed between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour on June 6. The proposed merge appears to have ended an ugly 12-month feud between the rival tours.
One man who has found himself at the centre of the dispute over the past year is Mickelson, after becoming the biggest name to make the Saudi switch and join LIV Golf last summer.
The HyFlyers captain has been quick to have his say on nearly every chapter of golf's civil war, but this time around he is keeping his cards close to his chest. When questioned on the matter in LA this week, Mickelson refused to comment on the matter.
Instead his concentration is firmly on his efforts on the course, as he chases down the career Grand Slam, with the US Open the only major absent from his trophy cabinet. He enjoyed a solid start in round one, carding a one-under-par 69 to leave him in a tie for 25th.
Never far from controversy, Mickelson's links to LIV Golf were confronted during his opening round. He finished his round on the par three ninth, and whilst stood over his putt he was disrupted after being taunted by a fan in the green-side grand stand.
According to Golf.com the disgruntled fan hit out at Mickelson, commenting: "What about all the guys on the PGA Tour, Phil? Every single of them looked up to you for their entire careers. This is what you do to them, Phil? This is what you do to them?”
Moments later the heckler was pulled aside by tournament officials, and escorted off the grounds of Los Angeles Country Club. On the back of the heckling, Mickelson pulled away from his putt before shouts of 'we love you Phil!' we heard across the stands.
In typical Lefty fashion, the five-time major champion regrouped before rolling his 30-foot putt to tap-in distance to walk off the green with a par. Evaluating his performance post-round, he said: "I played OK. I hit a few swings coming down the stretch. I made two bad swings that cost me a few strokes, but I hit a lot of good shots today.”
