Saudi bid targeting best 100

PHIL MICKELSON revealed the Saudi backers behind Greg Norman’s multimillion pound Super League have targeted the world’s top 100 players.

The US PGA champion is chewing over the offer to join the proposed Kerry Packer-style breakaway which involves a carrot of more than £20million to jump ship.

Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood (top), Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson have hinted they, too, have similar deals on the table. But if they sign up and quit golf’s established tours in America and Europe it will almost certainly end their Ryder Cup careers.

“I don’t think there’s a player that hasn’t been,” said Mickelson. “Pretty much every player that is in the top 100 in the world rankings has been contacted at some point, absolutely.

“I think everybody is looking at it and seeing parts of it that can really benefit their life, their career.”

Norman’s LIV Golf Investments will be holding further talks with players at this week’s Saudi International, hoping to tempt them with a 10-tournament global extravaganza, including a possible team element, but largely cash.

Westwood confirmed yesterday he had signed a non-disclosure agreement wisth the organisers. He said: “It’s like a game of poker really where the European Tour and the PGA Tour have had the biggest hand, and now there’s somebody else at the table with more chips.”