Phil Mickelson blasts PGA Tour's 'obnoxious greed' ahead of impressive start to Saudi International

Phil Mickelson declared that he does not care about the reaction to his extraordinary outburst against the PGA Tour and as if to prove his indifference to any criticism , the 51-year-old shot a 67 in the first round of the Saudi International.

Mickelson has made no secret of his interest in joining the Super Golf League and is playing in the Kingdom’s Asian Tour event courtesy of a huge appearance fee. On Wednesday, the left-hander stunned the golf world with his attack on his home circuit.

“If the Tour wanted to end any threat [from the rival leagues], they could just hand back the media rights to the players,” Mickelson told Golf Digest. 

“But they would rather throw $25 million here and $40 million there than give back the roughly $20 billion in digital assets they control. Or they give up access to the $50-plus million they make every year on their own media channel. That type of greed is, to me, beyond obnoxious.”

Mickelson’s on-course earnings on the PGA Tour top $100 million and his pension pot is believed to be worth more than $200m. Off course, the fame he has built in winning 45 PGA Tour titles - including five majors - has helped him amass another estimated $500m. 

Little wonder therefore that his “obnoxious greed” comment was being eagerly flagged up on social media. However, Mickelson is adamant that the issue is more complicated. 

“There’s a lot of complexities,” he said, after his three-under round left him five behind Italian pacesetter Matteo Manassero. “I don’t know what is going to happen, but I know I will be criticised. That’s not my concern. 

“All that would do is dumb down one of the most intricate issues in sports. The media rights are but a small fraction of everything else. And it is the tour’s