Koepka questions Mickelson as DeChambeau denies £100m Saudi Arabia offer

Brooks Koepka has questioned his former Ryder Cup team-mate Phil Mickelson's use of the words «obnoxious greed» to describe the PGA Tour.

Mickelson, 51, is competing in this week's Saudi International, where lucrative appearance fees are paid.

In explaining his involvement, he said the PGA Tour's «obnoxious greed» had «opened the door» for opportunities.

Responding to the story on Instagram, Koepka wrote: «Don't know if I'd be using the word greedy if I were Phil.»

Four-time major winner Koepka followed his words with five 'thinking face' emojis.

His fellow American Mickelson, who has earned about £70m in prize money on the PGA Tour, has been vocal about playing in Saudi Arabia, which it is suggested is using large sporting events to distract from its human rights record.

In recent years sports including football, Formula One and boxing have staged landmark events in the country and now a Saudi Arabian-backed Super League of golf has been proposed.

Some of Mickelson's frustration with the PGA Tour is focused on its control of lucrative media rights and, speaking to Golf Digest,external-link he added: «If the tour wanted to end the Saudi threat, or from anywhere else, they would just hand the rights back to the players.»

Mickelson, a six-time major winner, believes most of the world's top 100 players have been approached about signing to play in the super league.

Englishman Ian Poulter has reportedly been offered £22mexternal-link to sign up, while BBC Sport understands another European Tour player — who is not taking part in this week's Saudi event — has had £7m proposed.

World number nine Bryson DeChambeau — who withdrew after one round of this week's event because of injury — is the latest big name rumoured to have been