Each day, the teams of four will tee off at the same time on different holes in what is termed a 'shotgun start'.Įach event's individual winner will take home $4m - by way of comparison, the PGA Tour's flagship event, the Players Championship, earned Cameron Smith $3.6m for his victory in March, while Collin Morikawa won $2m for his Open Championship victory in 2021. The events will feature a team and individual competition, with 12 captains selecting three players in a draft-style format. This initial $255m (£202m) invitational series will feature six more regular season tournaments in 2022 - four in the United States, one in Thailand and one in Saudi Arabia - each having the same $25m (£20m) prize fund, meaning every leg of the series is more lucrative than the richest tournament on the PGA Tour. "He strengthens an exciting field for London, where we're proud to launch a new era for golf." "His contributions to the sport and connection to fans around the globe cannot be overstated and we are grateful to have him. "Phil Mickelson is unequivocally one of the greatest golfers of this generation," said Norman. Norman has shelved plans to run the series as a league format, instead each event will run as an invitational tournament until 2024. "We're talking about high nine digits," he added. In an interview with the Washington Post, Norman said 15-time major winner Tiger Woods had been offered a "mind-blowingly enormous" deal to take part in the series. Mickelson joins players such as two-time major winner Dustin Johnson - who has reportedly signed a deal worth $150m to play in the series - England's former world number one Lee Westwood, Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter and Spaniard Sergio Garcia. And I really believe that LIV can be good for the game of golf as well.'' But I have seen the good that the game of golf has done throughout history. "And addressing what happened to Jamal Khashoggi is awful. Why is Saudi Arabia's involvement in sport controversial?Īsked specifically about Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Mickelson added: "I certainly do not condone human rights violations.My family and I are and have been financially secure for some time." And I've been addressing it for a number of years. "My gambling got to a point of being reckless and embarrassing," he added. He also denied suggestions his involvement with the LIV series is due to financial difficulties caused by gambling losses. I also feel it's important for any player to have the right to play wherever they want, in addition to me being able to keep my lifetime membership.'' said: "I'd like to think that I contributed to the PGA Tour over that time. In an interview with American sports magazine Sports Illustrated external-link, Mickelson, who has won 45 events on the PGA Tour since joining in 1992. "I am ready to come back to play the game I love but after 32 years this new path is a fresh start, one that is exciting for me at this stage of my career and is clearly transformative, not just for myself, but ideally for the game and my peers." "I fully realise and respect some may disagree with this decision and have strong opinions and I empathise with that. He added: "I am thrilled to begin with LIV golf and I appreciate everyone involved. He has not spoken to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan but intends to continue playing in the biggest tournaments and said he will not resign his membership of the main tour in the United States. Having missed the past two majors, Mickleson says he intends to play at the US Open - the one major he has not won - at Brookline, Massachusetts, later in June. Taking time away and self-reflecting has been very humbling." "I have made mistakes in my career in some of the things I have said and done. ![]() "First and foremost, I want to again apologise to the many people I offended and hurt with my comments a few months ago," he said external-link. He subsequently missed the Masters for the first time in 28 years as well as last month's US PGA Championship, where he would have been defending champion. Mickelson lost multiple sponsors and saw his reputation tarnished after he criticised the Saudi regime, yet sought to use involvement with the series to gain leverage over the PGA Tour. The Sports Desk: Norman, Mickelson & Saudi money.In a statement on Twitter, Mickelson said taking time away from the sport has been "humbling". However, the PGA Tour has said players taking part in the event could face sanctions. The 51-year-old had sought a release from the PGA Tour to play in the event. Mickelson completes a 48-strong field in the $25m (£20m) Greg Norman-led event at Centurion Club in St Albans.
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