Phil Mickelson - Threat of rival league helps players

Phil Mickelson says the threat of competition from a proposed rival golf league has already made life better for PGA Tour players with increased prize money and the introduction of a season-long incentive program.

Mickelson, speaking during a news conference on Wednesday before this week's Saudi International, said the possibility of a Saudi-backed tour, believed to be called the Super Golf League, has caused the PGA Tour to take action.

«I think everybody is looking at it and seeing parts of it that can really help and benefit their situation, their life, their career, and then there's parts of it that they're probably concerned with,» Mickelson said. «I'm appreciative of the fact that there is competition, and that leverage has allowed for a much better environment on the PGA Tour.»

Because of the threat of a potential rival league, Mickelson said, the PGA Tour increased the FedEx Cup bonus pool to $75 million, introduced a $50 million Player Impact Program and raised the purse of the Players Championship to $20 million.

«I'm appreciative of the competition, and what my hopes are is that the biggest thing, which are media rights and the way the players have been used for so long, I hope that that changes through the competitive opportunity, as well,» Mickelson said.

Mickelson, 51, the defending PGA Championship winner, wouldn't directly answer whether he has been approached about joining the potential golf circuit being fronted by Greg Norman, although it is believed he is among several players from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) who have.

«I think every player has been contacted,» Mickelson said. «I don't think there's a player that hasn't been.… I'm just saying that pretty much every