Phil Mickelson will deal with Saudis to pressure PGA Tour

LOS ANGELES — Even though the Saudi Arabian government has been accused of myriad human rights violations by watchdog groups around the world, Phil Mickelson says he is willing to get involved with a Saudi-financed breakaway golf league to have leverage with the PGA Tour.

«They're scary motherf---ers to get involved with,» Mickelson told author Alan Shipnuck, who posted an excerpt of his upcoming book, «Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf's Most Colorful Superstar,» on the Fire Pit Collective website Thursday.

"… They killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights," Mickelson continued, in an interview that Shipnuck said took place in November. «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, 51, is one of the most high-profile PGA Tour players linked to the new circuit that will purportedly be funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the nation's sovereign wealth fund, which has an estimated worth of $500 billion.

«I know 20 guys who want to do this,» Mickelson told Shipnuck of the proposed Super Golf League, «and if the Tour doesn't do the right thing, there is a high likelihood it's going to happen.»

On Wednesday night, Shipnuck tweeted that organizers of the Saudi-backed league, which will be part of the Asian Tour, had commitments from 20 players and would publicly announce its plan next month during the week of the Players Championship, the PGA Tour's flagship event. The new league is being fronted by Greg Norman.

A PGA Tour spokesperson said the tour would have no comment