Phil Mickelson ‘Didn’t Speak at All’ at Scottie Scheffler’s Masters Champions Dinner

The conversations were apparently free of controversy as PGA Tour stalwarts and LIV Golf defectors converged in one room for Scottie Scheffler’s Masters Champions Dinner on Tuesday evening. One LIV member in particular, however, might have made a statement with his silence, instead. 

According to attendees of the exclusive dinner at Augusta National, three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson largely kept to himself and did not utter a word throughout the meal. 

When asked about the LIV vs. PGA Tour dynamics in the room, Fuzzy Zoeller—the winner of the 1979 Masters—provided details about Mickelson’s presence to The Augusta Chronicle. 

“We’re just 33 past champions in a room, all trying to get along. Nobody said a word about it. Phil sat near the end of the table and kept to himself. He didn’t speak at all,” Zoeller said. 

Tommy Aaron, the 1973 green jacket winner, confirmed Zoeller’s observation about Mickelson. 

“I wished him good luck, but I couldn’t believe how quiet he was,” Aaron told The Augusta Chronicle, “Phil took a very low profile. He didn’t say a word.”

Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia were the other members of the Saudi-backed tour present at the meal. 

Mickelson will be making his 30th Masters appearance this week. The 52-year-old did not compete in the 2021 tournament due to his extended hiatus from competition and the public eye. 

“It’s my favorite week, so being here and being a part of it, and being able to experience this great place and what it means is so fun because, as a kid, you grow up dreaming about being a part of this,” Mickelson said to the media on Tuesday.  

At the celebratory dinner, defending champion Scottie Scheffler served a Texas-inspired meal that included tortilla soup, ribeye steak and a warm chocolate chip skillet cookie. 

After the evening, Nick Faldo took to Twitter to poke fun of the hotly anticipated gathering. 

“I’m sure you’re all wondering about the temperature in the room, it was all calm and cool. Only the tortilla soup was spicy hot!” Faldo wrote.