Rickie Fowler confirmed to reporters that LIV Golf approached him about playing on its new tour and said he has not made up his mind about whether to pursue it.

“To be straightforward with you guys, I haven’t necessarily made a decision one way or the other,” Fowler said ahead of this week’s PGA Championship in Tulsa, Okla. “I’ve mentioned in the past, do I currently think that the PGA Tour is the best place to play? I do. Do I think it can be better? Yes. So I think it’s an interesting position.”

Fowler said he was in favor of competition, calling it “the driving force of our game.” Further, he said the LIV Golf Invitational Series — plus another nascent rival known as the Premiere Golf League — are popping up because they see an opportunity to draw golfers’ interest.

Fowler, 33, did not say whether he applied for a release to play in the debut LIV event in London next month.

“I’m, like, trying to learn as much as I can,” he said. “I have no commitment one way or another. Obviously the statement came out last week that they weren’t granting any releases. I think a lot of people thought that the first one being out of the country may not be an issue. Obviously it would be more so once it came into the U.S.”

LIV, headed by CEO Greg Norman, is launching this summer with an eight-event schedule featuring $255 million in total prizes. The Saudi-financed golf league has attracted controversy over the past several months.

Norman at one point issued a public letter to the PGA Tour saying it could not deny its golfers, whom he described as “independent contractors,” from playing where they wanted — a point Fowler brought up Tuesday.

“One of things to me, or I would say, are we independent contractors are not?” Fowler said “Do we — to me, like with competition, if there were other leagues or tours or whatever may be, the Tour continuing to be the best place to play, guys will come and play and be at the Tour but there’s options to go play another event if you want to. I feel like there needs to be some clarity between if you’re an independent contractor or are you basically an employee.”

Fowler added that his peers on tour want to know what the consequences would be if they played in London without having been granted a release. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan reportedly told a group of players in February that those interested in LIV should “walk out that door now,” implying they would not be allowed to play both there and the PGA Tour.

A longtime fan favorite, Fowler is seeking to regain his old form and contend for his first major title in the state where he starred in college. The Oklahoma State product tied for eighth at the PG Championship a year ago but also missed the FedEx Cup playoffs in 2021.

–Field Level Media

A trio of the world’s top golfers — including Tiger Woods — said Tuesday that they wished Phil Mickelson were at Southern Hills Country Club this week to defend his PGA Championship title.

Mickelson took an unexpected two-stroke victory over South African Louis Oosthuizen at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina in 2021.

“This should be a celebration, right?” said Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the world’s No. 7 player. “He won a major championship at 50 years old. It was possibly his last big, big moment in the game of golf. I think he should be here this week and celebrating what a monumental achievement he achieved last year.

The tournament begins Thursday at the course in Tulsa, Okla.

“It’s unfortunate,” McIlroy added. “It’s sad. Yeah, I don’t know what else I can say.”

Mickelson, 51, decided not to participate as he continues to cope with the controversial comments he made in February about the PGA Tour and a fledgling rival tour funded in part by Saudi Arabia. He hasn’t played since, even skipping the Masters.

“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, and he’s taken some personal time, and we all understand that,” Tiger Woods said. “But as we all know, as a professional, we miss him being out here. I mean, 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.”

Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America, said Mickelson’s representatives notified him Friday that he wasn’t ready to play.

“Obviously we respect that. We understand it,” Waugh said. “We wish nothing but the best for him and (wife) Amy. He’s going through a lot. I don’t really have a whole lot more to say. We’re disappointed he’s not here, and again, wish him all the best.”

Mickelson last played on the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open in January, where he missed the cut. Mickelson said in a statement in February that he needed time away from golf and has been quiet since.

Jon Rahm, the No. 2 player in the world, said he respects Mickelson’s decision.

“Phil has got to do what Phil has got to do,” Rahm said. “He’s a good friend of mine. I can’t remember the last time a major champion didn’t defend a title.”

He added: “I would have liked to see him defend. I know he’s played good here in the past. But again, he’s got to do what he’s got to do.”

The last player not to defend a major title was McIlroy, who skipped The Open Championship in 2015 because of an ankle injury.

–Field Level Media