Lefty’s bold prediction about Scheffler’s season sparks backlash and mockery.

Phil Mickelson has never been one to shy away from controversy, but his latest hot take might just be his most head-scratching yet. After Scottie Scheffler’s rocky start to the 2025 season—thanks to a wrist injury from a Christmas dinner mishap—Mickelson decided to weigh in with a bold prediction: Scheffler won’t win a single event before the Ryder Cup.

The Backlash: “Phil’s Living in a LIV Bubble”

Mickelson’s comments didn’t sit well with many, including Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, who didn’t hold back during a recent podcast episode. “Phil is living in some kind of LIV bubble,” Lewis said. “Usually, he’s very wise and poignant, but this is not one of those times. This take is just not very wise.”

Lewis isn’t wrong. Mickelson’s hot take feels like it’s coming from someone who hasn’t been paying attention to the PGA Tour lately. Sure, Scheffler hasn’t been his dominant self this season, but let’s not forget: this is the same guy who racked up seven PGA Tour wins, an Olympic gold medal, and a Hero World Challenge title last year. Oh, and he pocketed a cool $29.2 million in the process.

But according to Mickelson, Scheffler’s done winning until the Ryder Cup.

Mickelson’s LIV Golf Bias?

He’s been quick to praise his LIV counterparts, like Joaquin Niemann, whom he recently called the “#1 player in the world.” But when it comes to PGA Tour stars like Scheffler, suddenly the bar is impossibly high.

Lewis called out the double standard, pointing out that Niemann’s wins on LIV—a league with no cuts, smaller fields, and limited competition—don’t exactly stack up against Scheffler’s accomplishments. “If you’re going to go out and beat half the players on LIV in three rounds, in an event that doesn’t have the intensity of, say, The Players Championship, that’s not the same thing,” Lewis said.

Scheffler’s Response: Quiet Confidence

While Mickelson’s been busy stirring the pot, Scheffler has stayed focused on his game. Despite a lackluster performance at The Players Championship (by his standards, at least), Scheffler remains optimistic. “I feel very close to hitting my peak form,” he said. “There were definitely some positives from this week. I’m looking forward to another prep week at home before heading to Houston.”

Scheffler’s stats back up his confidence. At The Players, he ranked 14th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 13th in driving distance—a noticeable improvement from earlier in the season. And let’s not forget: this is a guy who’s made 25 consecutive cuts and hasn’t finished outside the top 25 all year.

Your Turn: What Do You Think?

At Better Golf News, we know golf is as much about opinions as it is about birdies and bogeys. Do you agree with Phil Mickelson’s bold prediction, or is Scottie Scheffler about to prove him wrong? Let us know in the comments—and don’t forget to tune in for the next chapter in this ongoing saga!