Golf legend Phil Mickelson has continued his fiery threats to take his talents to Asia if the PGA Tour doesn't sweeten the pot for its stars.
The six-time major winner was quoted by the author of his upcoming biography as slamming Tour leaders for "manipulative, coercive, and strong-arm tactics" over what he says is their refusal to compensate players more fairly.
Mickelson is one of several PGA Tour stars rumored to be interested in possibly joining the Super Golf League, a proposed breakaway circuit funded by the Saudi Arabian government that could pose a serious threat to the viability of the PGA as the world's premier golf tour.
On Thursday, a series of incendiary excerpts were posted online from the forthcoming Mickelson biography "Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf's Most Colorful Superstar" by the book's author, Alan Shipnuck, according to multiple reports.
Mickelson, in remarks reportedly made in November, told Shipnuck that he sees his dealings with the SGL as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."
"I know 20 guys who want to do this," Mickelson said, "and if the Tour doesn't do the right thing, there is a high likelihood it's going to happen."
The proposed SGL would be part of the Asian Tour, with events in the Middle East, Asia, and potentially a few in Europe and North America, ESPN reported on Thursday, citing an anonymous player. The league apparently aims to recruit about 40 players, with no cuts at tournaments and some team play involved.
Mickelson, the 2021 PGA Championship winner, has been critical of the PGA Tour in recent weeks, griping about the league's "obnoxious greed" with respect to its control of players' media rights.
"The Tour doesn't need that money," Mickelson said about players being unable to sell NFTs, per ESPN. "They are already sitting on an $800 million cash stockpile. How do you think they're funding the PIP [Player Impact Program]? Or investing $200 million in the European Tour? The Tour is supposed to be a nonprofit that distributes money to charity.
"How the f--- is it legal for them to have that much cash on hand? The answer is, it's not. But they always want more and more. They have to control everything. Their ego won't allow them to make the concessions they need to."
It's unclear exactly how many, or which, PGA stars are interested in defecting to the proposed SGL, but Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson are two of the bigger names who have been prominently linked to the breakaway league. Three-time tournament winner Jason Kokrak confirmed on Thursday that he has been in talks with SGL officials, conceding that the lure of more lucrative paydays was appealing.
PGA star Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy have made it clear they will not be leaving the PGA Tour, however.
PGA officials have previously said that any player who competes in the SGL will not be welcome back at PGA Tour events.
"Our members will have to decide whether they want to continue to be a member of the PGA Tour or play on a new series," Commissioner Jay Monahan said in 2020, according to Golf Digest.
In the new book, Mickelson says Monahan "won't do what's right" unless faced with pressure.
"As nice a guy as he 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 Tour.
"The Tour likes to pretend it's a democracy, but it's really a dictatorship," Mickelson told Shipnuck.
Earlier this month, Mickelson competed in the annual Saudi International in Jeddah, finishing tied for 18th place. The Asian Tour event was won by American Fred Varner III. Other notable participants included Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, among many others.
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