Phil Mickelson says Saudi-backed LIV Golf sequence is 'not going away'

Muricas News  — 

Veteran golfer Phil Mickelson says the controversial LIV Golf sequence is a “pressure” within the sport and it’s “not going away.”

Talking forward of the season finale on the Trump Nationwide Doral Golf Membership, close to Miami, Mickelson praised the Saudi-backed sequence for the way a lot it has grown throughout a tumultuous debut 12 months.

“If I’m simply taking a look at LIV Golf and the place we're in the present day to the place we have been six months in the past and persons are saying that is useless within the water,” he informed reporters.

“We’re previous that, and right here we're in the present day, a pressure within the sport that’s not going away.

“It’s fairly exceptional how far LIV Golf has come within the final six, seven months. I don’t assume anyone can disagree with that.”

Earlier this month, American Dustin Johnson secured the inaugural season-long LIV Golf particular person championship, incomes himself $18 million.

This weekend LIV Golf will maintain a workforce competitors with a $50 million prize purse.

Regardless of the eye-watering prize purses on provide, the breakaway sequence has continued to trigger big divisions within the sport of golf.

In August, the LIV sequence joined an antitrust lawsuit from a few of its stars that alleges the PGA Tour threatened to put lifetime bans on gamers who take part on the LIV golf sequence, including that “unprecedented suspensions” have been positioned upon them.

The PGA Tour filed a countersuit in late September, claiming “tortious interference with the Tour’s contracts with its members.”

The LIV swimsuit additionally alleges the PGA Tour has threatened sponsors, distributors and brokers to coerce gamers to desert alternatives to play within the Saudi-backed sequence’ occasions and entry to their members.

Mickelson, who joined the sequence earlier this 12 months, has beforehand stated he’s pleased to be on the “profitable workforce.”

Subsequent 12 months’s season is ready to develop from eight to 14 occasions and former US President Donald Trump’s golf golf equipment will proceed to play a significant function.

The LIV Golf sequence is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF) – a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and the person who a US intelligence report named as accountable for approving the operation that led to the 2018 homicide of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Bin Salman has denied involvement in Khashoggi’s homicide however critics have referred to as the sequence a “sportswashing” device for the regime.

Mickleson, although, says he’s targeted on golf and is worked up to play within the season-finale which is ready to start out Friday.

The occasion will encompass 12 four-man groups all competing for a first-prize value $16 million.

“It is a distinctive factor taking place in skilled golf, and it’s fairly thrilling, and to be on a historic course that held a (PGA) Tour occasion for longer than I feel nearly another occasion or was within the high 3 or 4.

“It’s fairly particular to have this monumental occasion happen on this website, too.”