Phil Mickelson mentioned Wednesday he doesn’t condone human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, on the eve of the primary match of the divisive LIV Golf Invitational Collection close to London funded by the Gulf kingdom. The six-time main winner confirmed earlier this week he had signed as much as play within the new sequence, saying he additionally plans to play main occasions, together with subsequent week’s US Open. Mickelson has not performed for the reason that publication of feedback in February wherein he criticised the US PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s Saudi backers.
In an interview with writer Alan Shipnuck, the 51-year-old American left-hander mentioned LIV Golf was a chance to realize leverage over the PGA Tour.
Nevertheless, Mickelson described the brand new enterprise’s backers as “scary” with a “horrible report on human rights,” noting the demise of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi consulate.
Saudi brokers killed and dismembered Khashoggi, an insider turned critic, within the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate in October 2018. His stays have by no means been discovered.
Fallout from the killing continues to mar Saudi Arabia’s picture, particularly in the US.
The 51-year-old Mickelson, who headlines a discipline of 48 gamers on the 54-hole LIV Golf Invitational London, which begins on Thursday, confronted a grilling at an eve-of-tournament press convention.
The American, who entered the room carrying darkish glasses, was requested what he meant by describing the Saudis as “scary”.
“Actually I’ve made, mentioned and finished a variety of issues I remorse and I am sorry for that and for the damage that it is brought on lots of people,” he mentioned.
“I do not condone human rights violations in any respect, no one right here does, any all through the world, and I am actually conscious of what has occurred with Jamal Khashoggi and I believe it is horrible.
“I’ve additionally seen the nice that the sport of golf has finished all through historical past and I imagine that LIV Golf goes to do a variety of good for the sport as properly and I am enthusiastic about this chance.”
– PGA Tour warnings –
Gamers opting into LIV Golf have finished so regardless of PGA Tour warnings of disciplinary motion.
Whereas a lot of gamers have resigned from the Tour as a way to compete within the LIV Golf occasions, together with two-time main winner Dustin Johnson, Mickelson mentioned he had no intention of following swimsuit.
“I earned my lifetime membership and I do not wish to give that up,” he mentioned. “I do not imagine I ought to should.”
“I do not know what is going on to occur, however I’ve earned that (lifetime membership) and I do not plan on simply giving that up,” added the American, a 45-time winner on the PGA Tour.
Mickelson refused to verify or deny if he had been suspended, or at the moment was suspended, from the American Tour.
“I select to not converse publicly on PGA Tour points presently,” he mentioned on the Centurion Membership in St Albans, outdoors London.
He additionally declined to verify if he’s receiving $200 million to compete within the LIV Golf occasions, however his reply indicated that the reported quantity may very well be correct.
“I really feel that contract agreements must be non-public,” Mickelson mentioned. “Would not appear to be the case, nevertheless it must be.”
The brand new LIV sequence, which includes eight tournaments this yr, is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Gamers will compete as people and groups for eye-watering purses of $25 million in all seven regular-season occasions, performed over three rounds with no lower.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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