Phil Mickelson criticizes ‘d–k transfer’ by USGA that can depart LIV’s Talor Gooch out of US Open

A current rule revision by the United States Golf Association (USGA) has affected Talor Gooch’s standing for subsequent month’s U.S. Open.

Originally, Gooch was set to play at Los Angeles Country Club as a result of he had certified for the PGA’s Tour Championship earlier than defecting to LIV. 

However, the USGA not too long ago mentioned golfers should qualify “and [be] eligible” to play at East Lake — upon becoming a member of LIV, Gooch was not thought of “eligible” for the Tout Championship.

Phil Mickelson speaks at a press convention for the U.S. Open on June 13, 2022. (David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe through Getty Images)

It was a slight change in language, nevertheless it proved to close Gooch out of golf’s third main of the 12 months.

“Any time we make adjustments to our standards going ahead it impacts someone and that stinks, however we are able to solely look ahead,” USGA CEO Mike Whan instructed GolfChannel.com on Monday.

But fellow LIV Golfer Phil Mickelson, who earned exemption into the event by profitable the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, sounded off Whan.

“Hey Mike, what about altering a rule and making it retroactive to exclude somebody who has already certified?” he tweeted Friday. “How can Talor Gooch not take that non-public? It’s a direct assault on him and his profession. How does it profit the usga or US open? It doesn’t. Just a d!*okay transfer.”

Team captain Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC walks the green on the tenth gap throughout the quarterfinals of the LIV Golf Invitational – Miami at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Florida, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)

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“Yep. He certified 9 months in the past through Tour championship. 3 months in the past Whan modified the wording on the qualifying standards to take it away. Total d!*okay transfer by Whan. He leads our governing physique. Sad,” Mickelson said in another tweet.

Earlier this week, Mickelson mentioned the transfer helped “collude” with PGA.

“Mike Whan not too long ago modified the wording from ‘certified’ for the Tour championship to ‘eligible.’ Thereby taking away Gooch’s exemption since he wasn’t eligible to play despite the fact that he had certified,” he tweeted Tuesday. “This doesn’t make the US open higher in any method however does assist collude with the Tour.”

LIV golfer Phil Mickelson, proper, and Talor Gooch stroll throughout a bridge on the 18th gap throughout the first spherical of the LIV Golf Invitational Series Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, on Sept. 16, 2022. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images)

The U.S. Open is about to tee off June 15.