Phil Mickelson stressed that he does not approve of human rights violations on the eve of the first event of the LIV Golf Invitation Series, supported by Saudi Arabia, at the Centurion Club outside London.
Mickelson described the Saudis as “sons of bitches” and said he was well acquainted with Saudi Arabia’s “horrible human rights record”, including the assassination of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi, in an interview with the author of a new unauthorized biography. However, he added that working with the Saudis was a “unique opportunity for life to reshape the operation of the PGA Tour”, also accusing the Tour of “unpleasant greed”.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Mickelson said: “I don’t notice any human rights violations at all. I’m definitely aware of what happened to Jamal Khashoggi and I think it’s terrible. golf throughout history and I think LIV Golf will also do very well for the game. “
Although several players have given up the PGA Tour to compete in LIV Golf events, Mickelson said he had no intention of following the same. “I’ve earned my subscription my whole life and I don’t want to give up on that, I don’t think I have to do that,” the six-time grand winner added. “I do not know what will happen, but I have won [lifetime membership)] and I do not intend to give it up. “
Mickelson declined to confirm or deny if he had been suspended, or if he was currently, from the PGA Tour. “Right now I choose not to talk publicly about the problems of the PGA Tour,” he said.
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He also declined to confirm whether he would receive $ 200 million to compete in LIV Golf events, but his response indicated that the amount reported may be accurate. “I think contract agreements should be private,” Mickelson added. “It doesn’t seem to be the case, but it should be.”