LIV GOLF ANDALUCíA

June 28, 2023

Dustin Johnson

Brooks Koepka

Phil Mickelson

Real Club Valderrama

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome all the star power that we have in the room right now. We are joined by three of our captains. We have Dustin Johnson, the captain of 4 Aces GC; Brooks Koepka, the captain of Smash GC; and Phil Mickelson, the captain of HyFlyers GC. Welcome, guys.

Valderrama is considered the Augusta of Europe is what they keep saying. I know, Brooks, DJ, this is your first time playing here, so what have your impressions been so far.

BROOKS KOEPKA: I played the back nine yesterday. I thought it was fantastic. Great golf course. Really got to think your way around it. It can be very difficult if you're just off a little bit, and I think that's the sign of a good golf course. If you're just off a little bit, you're struggling to shoot par. But if you're playing good, you've got some chances to really shoot a low number.

I'm excited to play it this week, see the front nine today.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I played the back nine yesterday, front nine on Monday. The course is unbelievable. You've got to drive it straight, tiny greens. I really like it, though. It's a golf course that I like. But yeah, you definitely want to be on your game playing this place. Like Brooks said, if you're off just a little bit, then it's very tough to make pars . Obviously depending on how firm the greens get because they're so tiny and they've got a lot of slope, the course can be as tough as you want it.

Yeah, it's a fantastic golf course, and I really enjoy it.

THE MODERATOR: Phil, you have some experience here. You were part of the 1997 Ryder Cup team that played here and also WGC '99, I believe.

PHIL MICKELSON: I played here a long time ago, but I have really fond memories here with Seve. I had a really special relationship with Seve. I looked up to him as a kid and I had a chance to play a PGA TOUR event with him in San Diego and he was so kind so me, and I really appreciated the time I spent with him, and there were a lot of great memories from his captaincy in '97. Even though we lost by a point, made a good Sunday rally.

The memories I had were of Seve leading his team and driving around the course and getting involved in what his players should do and try this shot and how creative he was. I had a lot of great memories but a lot of them are from Valderrama, and I can't come here without thinking about him.

THE MODERATOR: DJ, the 4 Aces are currently in the lead for the team championship but the Stingers are on your tail. Tell us a little bit about is there more pressure now that there's only seven events left, heading into the back end of the season?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, we always want to play well. We definitely like being in the lead. But yeah, we've got to get our act together a little bit. We've got to play a little stronger.

But as long as all four guys are playing well, we're going to compete every single week. I think this year we've done that pretty well other than maybe one event.

Yeah, we've got seven more events, and we've got to play really well if we want to win the title again.

Q. Brooks, you're currently in third place on the individual standings, but it's really anybody's game. It's a really tight race right now. Given your career accomplishments, where would a season individual trophy kind of rank amongst all of your career accomplishments?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, obviously it would be fantastic. It's pretty close right now. I think Talor is in one and I think Branden Grace is two. It's up for grabs. I think that's exciting, going into the last half of the season.

I think even looking down at four, five and even six in the rankings, it's all really tight. It will be a fun next few weeks, next few months, to see where everything plays out.

THE MODERATOR: Phil, you've really embraced this leadership role, and you've been mentoring a lot of your guys and you guys had a team dinner last night, you travel together. Is it something about where you're at in your career and life right now that it's really enabled you to embrace this role? Do you think you would have been the same way 20 years ago?

PHIL MICKELSON: My excitement level to play golf and my enjoyment level is really at a high point because of this team element and the ability to create these relationships and the dynamic that we have. I really look forward to coming out and playing, playing the practice rounds, playing the tournaments, and we have a lot of fun together, like last night getting together and having a team dinner. We all have a great rapport and a great relationship, and it's made getting out and playing and competing really fun and given me a new energy even at 53.

Q. I noticed that we are selling HyFlyer capes in the merch tent. Can you tell us a little bit about the genesis of the HyFlyers capes?

PHIL MICKELSON: It's aspirational. It's not for everybody. But it's a cool thing about her team and it's the creativity of my wife Amy and what she brings. We envision a lot of little kids running around the golf course in capes and that's kind of what we're hoping for, and have them dreaming about being a HyFlyer one day. I know we're only one year into LIV, but where it's going to be in 10, 15, 20 years, it's going to be pretty exciting.

Q. Phil, you talked about when you met Seve for the first time in your rookie tournament. What sort of advice did he give you and what sort of words of encouragement do you remember from all those years ago?

PHIL MICKELSON: It was little things like come over here, hit this shot, and he would hit a little flop shot out of the rough. It would be playing a practice round and have him hitting a shot to a back right pin when the pin on the practice day is front center, and he's talking about getting ready to play, compete and work on the shots he's had to play in the competition. That was for a 17 year old a little eye opening because I'm out there trying to shoot a number and score on a Tuesday practice round, which made no sense.

But it was when he would drag me over and we would have little competitions.

Then we both were with Hugo Boss and do photo shoots together and in between breaks we would have little bunker competitions, chipping competitions, and the time that I spent with him really meant a lot to me.

When you look up to somebody the way I looked up at Seve as a kid, watching him win the Masters and then you meet him, and he is everything you hoped he would be, it's not a letdown, it really meant a lot, and I cherish that time that I had with him.

Q. Brooks, you won twice in Spain in your early years. What do you remember of those years, and how important were they for your wins recently?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, it pretty much jump started my career when I was over here on the Challenge Tour. My first win was at the end of 2012 in Spain, and I think that kind of propelled me the next six months on the Challenge Tour, which got me European Tour, and then was able to make the leap over to the PGA TOUR. It basically jump started my entire career. You always look back at your first professional win, and to me that meant a lot.

I think it definitely plays a role in everything I've done, and like I've said it a million times, it was the most fun I've ever had playing golf was traveling the world those early years and learning a lot, learning about myself, learning different countries, learning different things. It was so much fun.

I think it played a huge part in who I am today.

Q. We've got this week and next before the next major. I was curious how you've enjoyed balancing the LIV schedule with the major schedule especially with the few countries we've played in?

PHIL MICKELSON: It's been a pretty full schedule to me relative to what I was expecting it to be at 53. Playing 19 events this year with the four majors and the 14 LIV events and playing in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, so it's been a lot of golf, but it's been fun because there's been enough breaks in between to where I get excited to get back out here. We were talking with our teammates about how much we were looking forward to getting out here and playing and playing practice rounds together and competing again, so there's enough of a time off in between where we get excited to get out here.

This is really a fun month for us to be over here in Europe. We've got two incredible LIV events here this week at Valderrama and next week in London before a little break to prepare for the British Open. I'm expecting a lot of players that aren't in the British to qualify, and then there's a lot of players here that will be competing.

This will be an exciting month for the LIV players as we really make a push to the second half of our season, and it's been a lot of fun.

Q. Brooks, DJ, has there been much of a difference than previous years from a scheduling standpoint?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: For me, no, there hasn't really been much of a difference. I've played about the same amount of tournaments I think the last seven or eight years. Like Phil was saying, the schedule has been pretty good. We've had some breaks. There's been some stretches where we've played a lot, but we've also had some nice breaks, too.

I was excited to come over here. We had a week off after the U.S. Open, and then coming over here, we've got a couple weeks, then get a nice break, and then obviously get ready for the open championship. I think our schedule has been really nice.

BROOKS KOEPKA: I agree with both of them. I think it's been fantastic. I think you can see the way the schedule has played out how everyone has played in majors. Phil second, I got second at the Masters. Good showing by a bunch of LIV guys at the PGA, and then the U.S. Open, as well. I think the schedule has been fantastic. It's definitely helped us in the preparation for the majors, as well.

Q. DJ, did you as captain order the code red on Pat Perez's hair?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I had nothing to do with that. That's all Pat.

Q. How excited have you been that you are playing here in Spain at Valderrama?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I guess for somebody that's never played -- I've been pretty excited. There's a lot of history at this golf course. I think everybody knows how special of a place this is. You look at a lot of the past winners here, been some of the best players to play the game.

I know I'm excited. I know a lot of the guys I've talked to have been very excited to come here and play this golf course.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Same for me. All the guys I talk to that have played here said nothing but great things, so I was excited to get here, and once I saw the golf course, it lived up to everything that people said about it. Yeah, it's a fantastic golf course. Really excited for the week.

PHIL MICKELSON: I think it's really a credit to Robert Trent Jones Sr., who designed it, and the way he made precision be such an important part of the test of golf rather than the ability to just overpower it. So this is a great example. When we talk about the golf ball going too far and so forth of how to create precision and ball-striking and course management as the challenge rather than just brute strength.

The simplicity of the golf course, the greens, they're not over-contoured. They have just the right amount of movement. They're small, they're difficult. The way each holes are shaped with the trees and the fairways moving, you really have to be creative on club selection as well as shot making. It's just a great overall test, and it's not just about who hits the ball the longest, it's about who can have the most complete golf game, and it's really a great golf course.

Q. With the framework agreement that was announced at the beginning of the month, it seems like most people presume that you guys want to return to the PGA TOUR, yet just hearing you talk about how you prepared for the majors and the way the season flows, it's actually a much better way for you guys. Just actually wondering if you do want to return to the PGA TOUR in some form of fashion?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I've been pretty happy with my decision to be here at LIV. I've enjoyed it. I'm not going to speak for everybody else, but I would say everybody is pretty excited, and everybody is pretty happy with where they're at right now. It's tough to look into the future and say -- I don't have any control over what other guys do, but I know I'm happy where I'm at right now, and just take it one day at a time.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I'm excited for the future. I think with this agreement, the only thing that's going to happen is LIV is going to get even better than what it is now, which it's already great. I'm happy exactly where I am, and I'm definitely not looking to play more golf than I'm playing now, that's for sure.

Q. Phil, you had a chance to talk to us at the U.S. Open but you wanted to wait until after. Unfortunately you left early. Can you talk about your thoughts now?

PHIL MICKELSON: Somewhat. I think that right now we have basically an agreement to have an agreement, so there's really -- and everything over the last couple of years that we've been told by Greg and everybody on LIV has come to fruition, so we have a lot of confidence in what they have been saying to us because everything has been happening.

We don't really feel the need to publicly posture our position. There's really no need for us to talk about things publicly but to just let it play out.

Q. Oddly, most people think that LIV is going to go away. They thought this agreement basically said that. But you're talking about capes. You're talking about the future. It seems like all of you believe that this is going to be around for a while.

PHIL MICKELSON: I think actions are a little bit stronger than words. I think if you just look at what LIV is doing and what we're doing, I think that is more of a statement.

Q. Phil, about your links to Spain. You've been a long time without coming here, but you have a good relationship with Seve, Sergio and Jon. Have you ever talked to them about the miracle of Spanish golf? Very little players having major winners. Have you talked to them about that?

PHIL MICKELSON: I have had a chance, and this country has some of the best players in the history of the game. It's really amazing the way golf has been such a part of the culture and to see the game grow and how Sergio and Seve in the past and Jon Rahm all have this desire to continue to grow the game here. They continue to do it, and the game gets stronger and stronger.

We're driving and seeing so many beautiful golf courses, and I ran into a couple of kids last night that were part of the junior program. It seems there's really a strong presence in the game of golf here in the country of Spain.

I think it's because the players that have been so successful continue to give back, starting with Seve and then going to Sergio, now Jon Rahm and all that they're doing to support their home golf. You see Jon and Sergio come back and play and compete in their national open and championship and support the game, and it's really cool what they've done.

Q. Phil, specifically, do you have any interest in playing on the PGA TOUR in the future?

PHIL MICKELSON: Rather than saying yes or no, I know that from a player experience, all of the difficulties and challenges and things that take a lot of excessive energy and output throughout the week have been fixed at LIV. So the player experience here is incredible.

I just can't envision a better scenario for me as a player than playing out here on LIV.

Q. You were a lot in the headlines, you took a lot of heat and criticism when this framework was announced. Did you feel any form of vindication?

PHIL MICKELSON: I would say I felt appreciation that we got to this point where we're working together because it makes me confident with where the game of golf is headed in the future. We felt like it was going to be about two years roughly before we got to that point. It took a year and a half or six months quicker than I thought it would be.

Going forward, we're all very optimistic about where the game of golf, professional golf specifically, is headed. Also a lot of the changes that have been made because of LIV were all very appreciative, both on the LIV Tour as well as the PGA TOUR, and we're happy for the guys out there that they're having some positive changes there, as well.

Q. Just curious about your opinion regarding the Ryder Cup situation and the captain role of Henrik Stenson. Is there a new situation do you think?

BROOKS KOEPKA: It's tough to speak for the European side. I think that's -- we don't really have any involvement in that, considering that we're all from the United States, so it's very tough.

I think to be honest with you, it's kind of unfortunate what happened. I don't know, we'll see. Hopefully there's a couple guys from LIV that are playing the Ryder Cup here in three months, so we'll see.

Q. What's your take, Phil?

PHIL MICKELSON: I'm with Brooks. I just can't comment on the DP World Tour. I'm not a member. I've not been part of it. I'm not knowledgeable on the ins and outs of it. I was disappointed to see the lack of support for Henrik Stenson as captain because of all he's done for the game of golf. I was disappointed to see what the Swedish Golf Federation did to not support him, and hopefully that stuff will start to change.

It's going to take a little bit more time, I think, to kind of iron out the agreement, but hopefully that will all change.

Q. You have been for a little while in Spain. Have you incorporated any word in your language in Spanish that is not jamón?

PHIL MICKELSON: Un poco.

BROOKS KOEPKA: I've learned some Spanish from my years over here 2012 to 2014. A little rusty in it but picking back up.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Un poquito.