NICK FALDO has taken a swipe at Phil Mickelson while appearing on Sky Sports.

Faldo, 66, is in Augusta commenting on the Masters.

While at the pre-Masters dinner on Tuesday, Faldo bumped into Mickelson.

The pair have not seen eye-to-eye in recent years, since the 53-year-old became one of the most high-profile stars to ditch the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in 2022.

According to Faldo, Mickelson was in a subdued mood as he awkwardly reunited with his former colleagues.

Appearing on Sky, Faldo said: “Phil was very quiet on Tuesday, he didn’t say a word.

“He was dead quiet, standing next to me. I wonder why.”

Faldo has frequently been an outspoken critic of LIV Golf.

Asked last year whether the Saudi-backed tour will survive, he said: “I don’t think so, because nobody’s really interested.

“They’re not going to get the sponsorship that they want.

“They call it a team (event) and it’s not because it’s strokeplay… It’s only half a dozen (players) that are really current.

“Half of the field I don’t really know and half the field are there for the very nice last-placed money that you still get if you shoot 20-over.”

In discussing Jon Rahm’s chances of retaining the Masters, Faldo took another dig at LIV.

He told the Sky Sports Golf podcast of the Spaniard: “He’s a hell of a player, but he’s going to have to make a little bit more effort to step it up and get the right intensity.

“He has been playing resort courses in his shorts for the last couple of months and hasn’t really been tested yet.”