“Quite honestly, it doesn’t matter who plays, we’re going to put the event on,” Norman recently told the Telegraph. In the early going, the league could feature more journeyman golfers, whose financial futures and sponsorship portfolios aren't nearly as flush as the stars players', and that's OK with Norman. That hasn't deterred Norman, 67, a World Golf Hall of Famer and two-time major winner, on what's officially being called the LIV Golf Invitational Series, not the Super Golf League anymore.
Seeing the backlash, publicly and financially, to Mickelson's comments, several top PGA Tour pros then were quick to go on the record with their plans to pass on the Saudi league, despite the huge money. More: LPGA founder Shirley Spork, whose love for golf was born in Detroit, dies at 94
He last played the PGA Tour in January, and has lost scores of sponsorships and be denounced by a number of his fellow touring pros. He's very doubtful to play the Rocket Mortgage Classic that last year he promised to return for in 2022, because of the fan support he received in the wake of a Detroit News article detailing his past ties to a Metro Detroit bookie. Since the comments went public in February, Mickelson hasn't been seen, and has only been heard from via a lengthy post on social media - a post that was more explanation than apology. "They’ve (PGA Tour) been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse." 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. They execute people over there for being gay. “We know they killed Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. “They’re scary mother (f-ers) to get involved with,” Mickelson told journalist Alan Shipnuck for his upcoming biography on Mickelson. Essentially, he suggested there was merit to a PGA Tour rival, even if the backing essentially is blood money from a Saudi Arabia regime that the CIA concluded ordered the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and is accused of many other atrocities. Phil Mickelson was a major target of the Saudis until shocking comments, made for an upcoming book, blew up in his face.