Golf: Phil Mickelson defends Saudi payday during media grilling

Six-time main championship-winning golfer Phil Mickelson appeared to substantiate extensively circulated rumours that he’s being paid $200m to play within the Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf Invitational Sequence.

The occasion, which begins on Thursday simply exterior London, has been accused of being a car for “sportswashing” Saudi Arabia’s human rights file.

Talking at a press convention on the Centurion Membership in St Albans, Mickelson informed Center East Eye: “I really feel that contract agreements must be personal – that does not appear to be the case, however they need to be.”

In February, it emerged that Mickelson had branded the Saudi authorities “scary motherfuckers,” and had mentioned that they’d a “horrible file on human rights”.

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Mickelson mentioned on the time that he was utilizing the prospect of a Saudi-backed sequence as leverage to “reshape how the PGA Tour,” the organiser of North America’s predominant skilled golf tournaments, operates.

Requested on Wednesday why he was now showing within the Saudi-sponsored event, which has shaken up the world of golf and is extensively seen as a significant rival to the normal PGA and European excursions, Mickelson commented that he had “mentioned and executed lots of issues I remorse”.

“I do not condone human rights violations in any respect,” the US golfer mentioned. “I am definitely conscious of what occurred with Jamal Khashoggi, and I believe it is horrible,” he added, referring to the MEE and Washington Publish columnist murdered by Saudi brokers in October 2018.

Requested to make clear whether or not he was “sorry for talking the reality in regards to the Saudis or sorry about your shameless hypocrisy in taking their cash,” Mickelson mentioned that he “understood many individuals have very sturdy opinions and should disagree with my choice”.

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Sporting a cap, sleeveless fleece vest and a golf shirt, Mickelson was grilled over the event’s Saudi sponsorship. At instances he regarded, within the phrases of 1 veteran reporter current, as if he was “participating in a hostage video”.

However he mentioned many times that he didn’t “condone human rights violations,” and went on to speak about snowboarding and travelling to “lovely locations” as a part of a latest four-month hiatus.

Talking after Mickelson, the high-profile English golfers Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood adopted him in defending their choice to play on the Saudi-backed event. 

“I regard myself as a world golfer,” Poulter mentioned. “We have all performed in Saudi Arabia already. The European tour has held occasions there. It is one thing I’ve executed prior to now. I am attempting to offer for my household.”

Westwood and Poulter had been requested if there was wherever on the earth, together with “Vladimir Putin’s Russia,” they would not play.

“I am not going to touch upon hypothesis,” Poulter replied.

Westwood responded: “I needn’t reply that query,” including that he had not been approached by any human rights organisations over his participation within the sequence.

Talking on Tuesday, one other participant, the Northern Irish golfer Graeme McDowell, mentioned: “If Saudi Arabia need to use the sport of golf as a approach to assist them to get the place they need to be, we’re proud to assist them on that journey, utilizing the sport of golf and the talents now we have to develop the game.”

McDowell described the “Khashoggi state of affairs” as “reprehensible”.

The $255m LIV Golf sequence will function six extra occasions in 2022, together with one in Saudi Arabia. The full prize cash on supply this week within the UK is $25m, essentially the most profitable ever performed for on British soil. The winner will take house $4m.

Excessive-profile members are considered commanding huge look charges, with former world primary Dustin Johnson, who has resigned from the PGA Tour, mentioned to be receiving $150m. 

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, himself a {golfing} legend, mentioned that Tiger Woods had turned down near $1bn to seem within the event. 

The Saudi-backed sequence is being in comparison with different breakaway tournaments throughout sport, together with cricket’s Indian Premier League and soccer’s just lately thwarted European Tremendous League.