Wearing a black cap and matching jumper, and sitting in front of a black backdrop before assembled media, it would be all too easy to presume that Phil Mickelson’s sartorial choice resembled his disposition these last few problematic months.
Though the American superstar was not as glum as his attire as he answered questions Wednesday about his involvement in the controversial LIV Golf series, he was nonetheless pensive on the eve of taking part in the world’s most lucrative golf event. It’s been a rocky few months for Mickelson, 51, who has not played since controversial comments about the Saudi Arabian-funded events were published earlier this year by his biographer. All the attention during Wednesday’s press conference was on him. The six-time major winner was quoted from a 2021 interview with author Alan Shipnuck for his upcoming book, „Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar“, as saying that he would consider joining the proposed Super League because it is a „once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.“
Shipnuck quoted Mickelson as saying disparaging things about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and asserting that the kingdom killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The LIV Golf series is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the man who a US intelligence report named as responsible for approving the operation that led to the 2018 murder of Khashoggi. Bin Salman has denied involvement in Khashoggi’s murder. Mickelson said in February he would take „some time away“ from golf after being criticized for his comments. He subsequently lost multiple sponsorships over the controversy and, on Monday, tweeted a statement, in which he was apologetic for his previous comments. In his opening answer in Wednesday’s press conference, when asked about the human rights record of the country providing funding for the venture, Mickelson appeared to be remorseful.
„Well, certainly, I’ve made, said and done a lot of things that I regret, and I’m sorry for that and for the hurt that it’s caused a lot of people“, he said during what was an often tense press conference.
„I don’t condone human rights violations at all. I don’t think — nobody here does, throughout the world. I’m certainly aware of what has happened with Jamal Khashoggi, and I think it’s terrible.
„I’ve also seen the good that the game of golf has done throughout history, and I believe that LIV Golf is going to do a lot of good for the game as well.
