Phil Mickelson’s bold claim about Joaquín Niemann looks worse after The Open meltdown

Phil Mickelson’s 2025 boast that Joaquín Niemann was the world’s best player now looks even more absurd after Niemann’s shaky start at The Open Championship on 17 July 2026.

What did Phil Mickelson say about Niemann?

Mickelson labeled Niemann the best player in the world in a post on X after Niemann’s Singapore win in March 2025. His team, Torque, had suggested Niemann ranked in the world’s top five. Mickelson’s claim came just months after he predicted Scottie Scheffler wouldn’t win on the PGA Tour before the Ryder Cup. Both predictions have aged poorly.

Niemann has since added four more LIV wins, but major success remains elusive. Rory McIlroy and Scheffler have each claimed two majors since Mickelson’s post. Niemann’s eight LIV titles don’t carry the same weight when the majors decide who’s elite.

Why Niemann’s Open record keeps hurting his legacy

Niemann is playing his seventh Open Championship this week at Royal Birkdale. His record is brutal: four missed cuts and zero top-50 finishes. Even Mickelson’s early Open struggles weren’t this bad. Mickelson missed two cuts in his first seven starts and never cracked the top 41 before turning 40.

The Open’s links layout exposes flaws no amount of LIV trophies can hide. McIlroy, Scheffler, and Jon Rahm thrive in every condition. Niemann’s inability to contend in the game’s oldest major puts his standing in doubt-no matter how many times he lifts LIV’s trophy.

How Mickelson’s prediction backfired

Mickelson’s X post wasn’t an outlier. He’s made plenty of bold takes on social media. His 2025 forecast that Scheffler wouldn’t win on the PGA Tour before the Ryder Cup also flopped. Scheffler has since added two majors to his resume.

Niemann’s LIV success is undeniable. Eight wins in two years make him the circuit’s breakout star. But golf’s hierarchy isn’t built on LIV leaderboards. The majors still decide who belongs among the game’s immortals.

What’s next for Niemann-and Mickelson’s legacy?

Niemann entered The Open at 100-1 odds. After carding six-over on day one, his chances of ending his major drought look slimmer than ever. Mickelson’s 2025 claim now reads like a cautionary tale about overrating LIV dominance.

The Open continues Friday at Royal Birkdale. Niemann needs a dramatic turnaround just to make the weekend. For Mickelson, the moment is a reminder: bold words on X age faster than LIV’s leaderboards.