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During a crazy week when more golfers are leaving the PGA Tour to join the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf Invitational, the one pro saying the least about his status is Phil Mickelson.
The six-time major champion was noncommittal in a press conference Wednesday about whether he has or hasn’t completely left the PGA Tour — despite not competing in a Tour event since January and basically being under-the-radar ever since.
“I choose not to speak publicly on PGA Tour issues at this time,” Mickelson said Wednesday as he was grilled by the media ahead of the first LIV Golf event, which kicks off in London.
The PGA Tour has made it clear it won’t support players competing in both leagues, which has driven golfers competing in this week’s LIV event to resign from the Tour. Mickelson, however, appears to think he can still play in both.
“I’ve worked really hard to contribute and add value to the [PGA Tour] during my time there,” Mickelson continued. “I worked really hard to earn a lifetime exemption, and I don’t want to give that up and I don’t feel like I should have to. I don’t know what that means for the future. I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I’ve earned that, and I don’t plan on just giving it up.”
Mickelson was also vague when he was pushed for a follow-up on his highly controversial comments about joining LIV despite being funded by a country accused of multiple human rights violations — including the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
“I don’t condone human rights violations, I don’t know how I could be any more clear,” Mickelson said defensively. “I love the game of golf and I see the good that it has done and I see the opportunity for LIV Golf to do a lot of good for the game throughout the world.”
The contestable breakaway league has tempted well-known golfers by offering obscene amounts of money to participants and even more if they win events. In addition to Mickelson, well-known golfers Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau — both of whom previously admonished the breakaway league — among others have been swayed to join the league.
The first LIV Golf event is set to start on Thursday.
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