Infotainment Factory: Awkward Masters dinner looms after 'jerk move'

Phil Mickelson has taken aim at Fred Couples in a since-deleted social media post, after comments made relating to a potential Brooks Koepka defection.

Five-time major winner Koepka recently visited the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL), the new indoor league which has attracted some of the PGA Tour's biggest stars.

Koepka is signed on a lucrative deal with LIV Golf but according to Couples has expressed a desire to potentially return to the PGA Tour in the future.

"I talked to Brooks Koepka all the time. I love Brooks Koepka, and I'm not going to say anything extra except I talked to him all the time," Couples told radio station KJR 9.33 FM.

"He wants to come back. I will say that I believe he really wants to come back."

Those comments didn't go down well with Mickelson, who was one of the first names to sign with the rich Saudi-backed LIV when it was first formed.

The 54-year-old took aim at Couples on social media for either lying about or airing out Koepka's personal desires to return to the Tour.

"If it's not true, he damaged a relationship which he cares about," Mickelson wrote via X.

"If it's true he took away Brooks' control of the timeline and narrative.

"Either way this is a low class jerk move by Fred."

It's not the first time the pair have exchanged words in recent years, with Couples taking aim at Mickelson in 2023 over his highly-paid contract with LIV.

"If you're willing to give Phil Mickelson $200 million ($320m AUD) at age 53 to shoot 74 and 75, god bless you," he said at the time.

The pair are expected to be in the same room next month, with both former champions set to be part of the annual dinner at The Masters.

Mickelson won the 2004, 2006 and 2010 editions of golf's most prestigious event, while Couples took it out in 1992.