Phil Mickelson took advantage of LIV Golf’s latest rule change which allows players to wear shorts during the breakaway tour’s latest event in Boston.
The lucrative LIV Golf series is funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and it has divided golf, leaving the PGA and DP World Tours fractured after the new series poached some of the sports biggest names. Several of the world’s most prominent players have decided to switch to LIV Golf, including the likes of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Mickelson.
The controversial series - bankrolled by a Saudi regime renowned for human rights abuses - continues to divide golf and shake up the sport, and CEO Greg Norman announced players could wear shorts during tournament rounds. The rule change came into effect from Saturday.
Norman declared LIV Golf the first professional golf tour or league to allow men to wear anything other than standard golf pants. The topic has been discussed among PGA Tour officials in recent years, but no changes were made to the dress code.
In Boston, Mickelson ended his run of nine consecutive rounds in LIV Golf without breaking 70 by scoring a 68 to land 41st in the leaderboard. Meanwhile, LIV’s marquee signing Cameron Smith followed an opening round of 64 with a one-under 69.
The Australian is in a tie for eighth in his first LIV Golf Series event following his £84 million switch. Smith potted an eagle on the par-five closing hole for the second successive day, but he trails Talor Gooch by five shots heading into Sunday’s third and final round.
The American had a five-under 65 which means Gooch currently enjoys a one-stroke lead over debutant Joaquin Niemann. Gooch has impressed with LIV Golf, finishing in the top 10 in all three events.
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Two-time major champion Johnson is at 10-under and has also finished in the top 10 in all three LIV Golf events. The 38-year-old said: “I've been playing solid I feel like every week.
“Each round I've felt like I'm doing the right things. Eventually it's all going to come together.
“The game is definitely in good form, and I like the direction it's heading in.”
Niemann signed with LIV Golf this week after completing the Tour Championship in Atlanta. The Chilean will hope to emulate former Ryder Cup Europe captain Henrik Stenson in winning their first LIV event.
