Phil won’t nix playing PGA Tour again
BROOKLINE, Mass. — Phil Mickelson stuck to his script and showed restraint when put in tough spots at the U.S. Open, a big change for him. Except on Monday, he was using words instead of his golf clubs.
Still to come is the major reputed to be the toughest test in golf, the only one keeping him from joining golf’s most elite group with the career Grand Slam. And this one figures to be far different from any other Mickelson has faced.
He is competing on American soil for the first time in more than four months, now the face of a Saudi-funded league that aims to disrupt the PGA Tour.
‘‘In regard to if fans would leave or whatnot, I respect and I understand their opinions, and I understand that they have strong feelings and strong emotions regarding this choice,’’ Mickelson said.
Last week outside
London, Mickelson,
Dustin Johnson and
15 others defied PGA
Tour regulations by competing in Greg Norman’s new LIV Golf series that paid Lefty a reported $200 million just for signing up.
Mickelson said while tour players have been suspended — some of them resigned before the opening tee shot last week — he hasn’t ruled out playing the PGA Tour again. He said Monday that it should be his decision.
‘‘I’ve worked hard to earn a lifetime membership,’’ said Mickelson, whose six majors are part of his 45 career tour victories.
For the legions of fans who are angry at him for taking Saudi Arabian money to play in a rival golf league, he understands emotions run high and respects their opinions.
For the families of those who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — all but four of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens — he expressed deepest empathy even as a victims’ group demands Mickelson and others leave the LIV Golf series.
Asked if he felt he needed to apologize for being part of the Saudi-backed circuit, Mickelson declined to take the bait.