Phil Mickelson Rips ‘Low Class’ Fred Couples for Brooks Koepka Return Take

LIV Golf has generated a lot of buzz so far in 2025, but a lot of it has to do with headlines outside of the golf course.

One of the biggest stories surrounding LIV Golf has been the possibility that two of its biggest stars, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, could head back to the PGA Tour when their contracts expire in 2026.

On Monday, longtime tour legend Fred Couples poured a whole can of gasoline onto that fire when he boldly stated that Koepka “really wants to come back” and play on the PGA Tour.

While that may or may not be true, current LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson doesn’t agree with the way that Couples went about breaking the news. Mickelson went off on the 1992 Masters champion in a since-deleted post on X.

“If it’s not true he damaged a relationship which he cares about,” Mickelson wrote. “If it is true he took away Brook’s (sic) control of the timeline and narrative. Either way this is a low class jerk move by Fred.”

Mickelson obviously has a vested interest in keeping Koepka on the LIV tour as one of its faces and first defectors. However, the six-time major champion may not have a say in the matter if LIV does not match what Koepka wants in his next contract.

Getting Koepka, one of the biggest names in golf, back on the PGA Tour would be a huge win and a major change in the dynamic between the PGA and LIV.

A player returning to the PGA Tour after defecting to LIV would be uncharted territory in the rivalry between the two leagues. A five-time major champion and someone with the star power of Koepka making the jump would represent a seismic shift.

More Golf: Brooks Koepka ‘Wants to Come Back’ to PGA Tour, per Fred Couples