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Fallout from Phil Mickelson’s explosive comments about Saudi Golf League rumbles on

Phil Mickelson lines up a putt

The 51-year-old has taken an enormous risk with his reputation in his quest to “leverage” the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson's astonishing thoughts about the Saudi Golf League, Saudi Arabia and his disagreements with the PGA Tour continue to astound the world of golf.

It was already more or less accepted that the players set to sign up for the new SGL were doing so for monetary reasons, with notions of growth for the game somewhat mealy-mouthed.
Above and beyond that, it was also known that Mickelson has a beef with the PGA Tour and he has form in using one fight to find an angle in another.
What was not so expected is that his true thoughts would be revealed so openly and in such brazen language.

Chapeau to the Alan Shipnuck and the Firepit Collective.

Shipnuck has written a book about last year's PGA Championship winner and while researching it he took a call from him which was quoted in an article this week.
In it the author revealed Mickelson has enlisted players, was involved in codifying league details and was then quoted saying: "They're scary motherf**kers to get involved with. We know they killed 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. They've been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse.
"As nice a guy as (PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan) comes across as, unless you have leverage, he won't do what's right. And the Saudi money has finally given us that leverage. I'm not sure I even want (the SGL) to succeed, but just the idea of it is allowing us to get things done with the (PGA) Tour."
The golf world emitted an enormous "wow" and the fall out has rumbled on ever since.
Justin Thomas was at this week's Genesis Invitational at Riviera when he learned of the comments and said: "Seems like a bit of a pretty, you know, egotistical statement.
"I don't know, it's like he's done a lot of great things for the PGA Tour, it's a big reason it is where it is, but him and others that are very adamant about that, if they're that passionate, go ahead. I don't think anybody's stopping them."
Golf Digest debated with a legal attorney the question of whether Mickelson a) could be suspended from the PGA Tour, and b) might already be.
Referencing that Pat Perez noted: "He's never missed (last week's Phoenix Open and this week's Genesis Invitational). I'm surprised he didn't play. I don't know, I don't know what Phil's doing. I know Phil's got a lot of stress in life right now and I don't know what he's doing."
Joel Dahmen told Golf Channel: "I think Phil speaks for Phil. Has he said some brilliant things through the years? Sure. Has he said some not-so-brilliant things? I think that's true. But Phil doesn't speak for us and he doesn't speak for me."
Golfweek columnist Eamon Lynch said: "I cannot think of a more morally bankrupt statement that any public figure could make."
And TV analyst Brandel Chamblee tweeted:
Meanwhile ...

READ MORE: Joaquin Niemann continues to dominate at the Genesis Invitational, sets new 36-hole scoring record

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