It looks and sounds like the PGA Tour has its own version of Benedict Arnold.
His name is Phil Mickelson.
We’ve been waiting for something credible when it comes to this Saudi Golf League business because up until now, the golf world has been flooded with hearsay, whispers, no names, obscene amounts of money and all sorts of assorted crap.
Now comes someone with actual, you know, credibility in the world of golf journalism.
A while back, Alan Shipnuck, who broke the record of the late, venerable Dan Jenkins with 11 (yes 11) first place writing awards from the Golf Writers Association of America, had a one-on-one with Mickelson and the result was eye-popping.
Alan isn’t some wannabe with a podcast. He’s not some millennial who plays golf with his buddies and decides that he’s now a credible source of information.
No, Shipnuck is the real deal. He formed a cool writing co-op with some long-time friends, including Matty Ginella, who was everyone’s favorite back when he was one of the best on the Golf Channel. Their on-line site is called the Fire Pit Collective and it’s a great site.
So take it to heart when Alan produced this latest piece that identifies Mickelson as basically the PGA Tour’s version of a traitor when it comes to this sleazy, dirty-money business with the Saudis.
According to Alan’s interview with Lefty, Mickelson detailed that he recruited three other Tour players to the Saudi league and that he and said players paid attorneys to construct an operating agreement for this Saudi League, if you will.
Here’s some excerpts from Shipnuck’s interview with Mickelson, Phil talking pretty candidly about the Saudis:
“They’re scary motherfuckers to get involved with,” Mickelson told Shipnuck. “We know they killed (Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal) Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”
It’s important to note that Shipnuck is releasing a book, an unauthorized biography on Mickelson that will come out in May.
Per Shipnuck, Mickelson admitted that the proposed Saudi League is nothing more than what has previously been tagged as “sportswashing.” Saudi Arabia is basically trying to put on big-time sports events to distract the rest of the world’s public from the country’s human rights abuses.
Mickelson, in his time with Shipnuck, continued to bash the PGA Tour.
Here’s more from Benedict Arnold, errrr, Phil Mickelson:
The PGA Tour has used “coercive, strong-arm tactics” toward players.
Mickelson said he’s using the alleged Saudi money as leverage. “I’m not even sure I even want (the Saudi League) to succeed, but just the idea of it is allowing us to get things done with the Tour.”
Mickelson also told Shipnuck that “the tour pretends itself as a democracy, but acts as a dictatorship.”
Mickelson also claimed he has “20 players” lined up to jump to the Saudi League.
None of them are in the top 10 as basically all of them have expressed no interest in the Saudi League and have stated on the record that their future lies on the PGA Tour.
Shipnuck also brought up Mickelson’s finances, noting that Mickelson sold his private jet, a Gulfstream, in 2019.
A source close to Mickelson made this observation: “He loved that plane so much it was like his fourth child. I was absolutely shocked that he sold it. The only reason I could possibly imagine him doing that was him feeling serious financial pressure.”
Pressure or no pressure, Mickelson is trying to exert his own brand on pressure on the PGA Tour.
It’s sad, given how the Saudis are viewed by the rest of the free world.
And if Shipnuck’s report is absolutely, positively the truth and the whole truth regarding Mickelson’s dealing with the Saudis, you wonder how the PGA Tour will react?
Phil’s gotten away with a lot of “stuff” in the course of his long career and the Tour has basically looked the other way.
Not sure what Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan (aka The Sheriff Of Nottingham) and his cronies are thinking right now. But word of this Mickelson revelation from Shipnuck is spreading rapidly around the PGA Tour.
Rory McIlroy’s reaction was quick as he termed Mickelson: “naive, selfish, egotistical, ignorant.”
Rory hit the nail (or Mickelson) right on the head.
Time to throw this Saudi nonsense by the wayside and kick dirt on it.
That’s all it ever deserved.
One Comment
baxter cepeda
So much going on here.
I just watched Shipnuck on Course Record have what Breed called a “fascinating conversation.” It was.
I didn’t get the impression this whole Saudi thing is now over and done with.
It’s worth mentioning again the comments that made headlines and brought major overreactions are only a very small part of the interview. Not that the quotes are out of context or anything like that but even the short talk Shipnuck had with breed brought much more context to what Phil said in the now infamous November interview.
The great reporter said he believes Phil is doing this for both himself and the other players. He mentioned how Saudi money is all over big time sports and how their oil is in all of our cars. Other sports have proven plenty of sponsors will still be around.
Shipnuck reminded Breed how Phil has done crazy things like this before. And they have worked. Pundits always said Phil (and Tiger) didn’t care about the Ryder cup but Phil cared so much he helped the US Ryder Cup team by throwing a legend under the bus.
Phil does tough love to the usga on the regular but still wants to win their championship more than anything.
No doubt imo Phil’s words have been on the wrong side of the line a bit, especially lately. But another thing Shipnuck said is players realize Phil has used the leverage to bring 100$ million to the pga tour players annually…and more to come.
Thanks to a few players like Phil most players have been able to sit back and observe as the pga tour suddenly created all sorts of crazy new ways to reward them ridiculous new amounts financially.
He mentioned how the Players Championship is now a 20$ million dollar purse which has been the saudis “magic number”.
Shipnuck also mentioned Phil is being refreshingly honest while most players whom are interested use the cheese grow the game talk.
It’s hard to imagine Phil’s gambling could have created real financial problems for himself. But it is possible with that addiction. I hope not. That really would be sad.
Regardless, I was very impressed with Breeds questions. And Shipnucks sounded great on tv as he shared more of his great reporting without giving so much away no one buys his book.
I really don’t feel Shipnuck thinks Phil will or should be some outcast for this. He doesn’t deserve to get dumped by the tour, the players, and sponsors and end up on the street.
I want to add how important it is to remember those countless hours over many decades Phil has spent engaging with people. This man has put more into relationships than anyone not named Arnold Palmer. This man has gone out of his way to engage people with PGA Tour golf more than anyone but the King. I would hope players would back Phil up if he gets black balled. If I was a judge I would not permit black balling any players for these issues where they are just trying to explore more lucrative options in their line of work.
Phil may be regretting some things today. But all these attacks on his character and legacy for all this are downright ludicrous IMO.