Clay Travis: Phil Mickelson in trouble for comments that NBA, others get away with in China relationship

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PGA Tour legend Phil Mickelson is in hot water over his recent comments concerning the Saudi backed Super Golf League (SGL).

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Author Alan Shipnuck published an excerpt last week for his upcoming biography of Mickelson, in which the six-time Major champion said he was looking past the Saudis human rights violations in order to gain leverage with the PGA Tour. Mickelson has been outspoken against the PGA Tour for its greed and has threatened to join the upstart SGL.

Phil Mickelson hits his tee shot on the fifth hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Wednesday Jan. 26, 2022, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

"They’re scary … to get involved with," Mickelson said. "We know they killed [Washington Post columnist 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."

Mickelson faced backlash from many of his fellow colleagues on Tour, including Rory McIlroy, who called Mickelson’s comments "naive, selfish, egotistical, ignorant." KPMG also ended its relationship with Mickelson over his comments.

OutKick’s Clay Travis called out the fact that the NBA and other companies haven’t been criticized for their dealings with China amid the ongoing genocide against Muslim Uyghurs. The difference, Travis said, is that Mickelson was open about it — and that’s why he’s facing an uproar.

"So Phil Mickelson is in trouble for saying out loud he was