Phil Mickelson / PGA / Saudi Tour

[Foppa21]

Haven't seen a thread on this. I'm not going to rehash it here you either know about it or don't care about it. Thoughts?

I think Phil's on one of those mystery suspensions. Be interesting to see if he shows for the PGA and/or Masters

 

[rearnakedchoke]

Phil is just known for putting his foot in his mouth. There was the whole thing about California taxes. The inferior clubs thing. The latest was the PIP? Winner, which tiger gave him a great burn on. And now the saudi tour.

 

[jimjamjammer]

I don't disagree with anything he said and he's not wrong either. But I guess he is the sacrificial lamb. It's what happens when you speak your mind these days. Hurt feelings are worth more than anything.

 

[Dr J]

Phil says the quiet things out loud. He should have told everyone calling for his head to suck his 5 wood and that he’d apologize only after the NBA, Nike, Apple, etc. changed their business practices.

 

[Fugazy]

I really don’t know what this is about

 

[Dr J]

I really don’t know what this is about

 

[Foppa21]

I heard a interview with Max Homa a few weeks ago. The only issue with the players money wise is that while they're getting more $$$ in prize pool, it hasn't got up commensurate with the increase in revenue for events. A retainer, appearance fee type thing to give the players a bit of stability income wise is another complaint.

Of all the players that seem like they're at least keeping a open mind, I find it interesting that Adam Scott is one of them. From the little I've heard, the money's good and it's a reduced schedule.. 14 odd weeks tops.

 

[Morning Star]

Literally said nothing untrue. Should have been a fine at the very worst. Funny how these organizations have zero problems getting in to business relationships with shady countries but God forbid someone actually talk about the shady shit out loud. Phil's a legend.

 

[Foppa21]

Phil's been listed on the Masters website as not competing

 

[Frank23]

 

[Corona]

Phils degenerate gambling habits have forced him into this. At least he didn’t reach Jordan levels and get his dad killed.

 

[mjmj]

I don't follow much golf, why is Mickelson getting so much shit and no one else? He's not the only PGA playing to play in the LIV event. It wouldn't even be an issue if the PGA wasn't acting like a bunch of whiny little bitches because they no longer have the monopoly on professional golf.

 

[jimjamjammer]

I don't follow much golf, why is Mickelson getting so much shit and no one else? He's not the only PGA playing to play in the LIV event. It wouldn't even be an issue if the PGA wasn't acting like a bunch of whiny little bitches because they no longer have the monopoly on professional golf.

He said some things out load that most people were thinking. That's it really. Agreed about the PGA too.

 

[Octavian]

Phil can go to the hokey setup over at LIV and not get primetime slots and rot. Other than him, Bryson, Reed and DJ, the majority of the rest of the players that have moved over so far had no chance of winning on the tour. What I especially don't like are guys like Westwood and Poulter avoiding saying "it's all about the money" but then also not addressing that they're taking oil/blood money from the Saudis.

It'll be interesting to get a feel for the hurdle rate the Saudis are looking for. If they don't have one and operate this thing at a loss, they can poach a much larger field of golfers and then guess what... we all get less golf and in a stupid format.

It's a freaking crime and Phil's an idiot.

All that said, the PGA should try hard to raise the purses across the board and ensure that they're committing every dollar they can back to the players. They should pay for player and caddie travel and accomodation.

 

[rearnakedchoke]

The players can make their decisions, and the pga can suspend them or ban them.

 

[Corona]

If the majors still allow these guys to play then expect more golfers to jump ship. Those saudis are loaded lmao.

 

[nstig8]

If the majors still allow these guys to play then expect more golfers to jump ship. Those saudis are loaded lmao.

They will. If any major doesn't let them play, they are just devaluing their own product by not fielding all of the best talent.

Same goes for the OWGR. If they don't recognize LIV, their rankings won't be anywhere near an accurate representation of the best golfers in the world.

 

[Johnnny]

Phil can go to the hokey setup over at LIV and not get primetime slots and rot. Other than him, Bryson, Reed and DJ, the majority of the rest of the players that have moved over so far had no chance of winning on the tour.

No chance of winning on the PGA Tour?

Hudson Swafford won on the PGA Tour this year. Kevin Na, Branden Grace, Talor Gooch, and Matt Jones won on the PGA Tour last year.

Last year, Louis Oosthuizen finished in 2nd at the PGA Championship, 2nd at the US Open, and 3rd at the Open Championship.

Charl Schwartzel finished in the Top 10 at the Masters this year. Last year, he had a 2nd and a 3rd on the PGA Tour.

Last September, Bernd Wiesberger ranked 4th in qualifying points for the European Ryder Cup team. Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood also made the team and all ranked inside the Top 50 of OWGR.

 

[Fluffernutter]

Women could play golf in Riyadh before they could become members of Augusta National.

 

[Morning Star]

I just read this on theScore:

The likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, and Sam Burns are battling at the Canadian Open for the $1.55-million payout to the winner. The 19th-place finisher at St. George's in Toronto will pull in just over $123,000. In London, Andy Ogletree shot rounds of 82, 77, and 75 to finish an outrageous 31 shots behind Schwartzel for the event. He'll still take home $120,000 for his work.

The significant six-figure deal Johnson got to jump ship to LIV Golf has been well-documented, and the two-time major champion takes home $625,000 for his eighth-place finish in London. That's just $373,000 less than he's made on the PGA TOUR all season.

If these payouts are sustainable then I don't see how the PGA can compete if you're making 2/3rds of your annual earnings in one week. Plus that massive signing bonus.