Phil Mickelson Won't Discuss 'PGA Tour Issues' As LIV Debut Nears

HAMEL HAMPEDSTE, England - Phil Mickelson, speaking in public for the first time since February, did not confirm or deny that his opponents were banned from participating in LIV golf.

"I don't want to talk to the public about the PGA Tour issue right now," Mickelsen said Wednesday morning.

Mickelsen said he regretted the recent controversial comments about his decision not to participate in golf, including his decision not to participate in the PGA Championship last month.

"I have said and done many things for which I regret," Mickelson said. "I apologize for the inconvenience. I apologize for the inconvenience."

Mickelson is part of a 48-man squad for the LIV Golf League, which starts on Thursday at the Club Center near London. Among those on the field were several golfers who announced last week why Ken Nan and Dustin Johnson had left the PGA Tour.

Earlier, ESPN's Mark Slabah told PGA Tour Commissioner J Manahan that players had to choose between playing on the PGA Tour or LIV Golf Series at a commemorative service in Dublin, Ohio last week. Don't play any of them. The monk threatened his London players without trial, including disciplinary action, fines, qualifications and / or disqualifications.

Mickelsen answered reporters' questions for about 30 minutes, but declined to comment repeatedly to journalist Alan Shipank, who repeatedly told LIV golf owners that "cowardly mothers should be present." "With

LIV Golf is supported by the Saudi Arabian State Investment Fund, which is managed by Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In 2018, Salman was charged with several counts of human rights abuses, including the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Kashoga.

"I do not acknowledge human rights abuses," Mickelson said. "No one in the world is doing it here. I know exactly what happened to Jamal Hashogi. I think it's too bad. I've seen the best thing about golf in history. I think it's LIV golf. It works very well. For the game."

During the press conference, Mickelson was careful in his choice of words, often stopping to think about how to solve the problem before opening his mouth. He joked several times and drank his healing coffee from a cup with his logo, but it often seemed dark when he thought of the answer.

About four months after playing golf, he said he traveled with family, spent time in health care and watched golf on TV.

"I took a four-month break from a game I hadn't played in over thirty years," Mickelsen said. “I had the opportunity to travel the world with my wife Amy, skate in Montana and skate in Sedona. I was given some time to continue.

Michelson claims that betrayal is the result of torture.

"I've been doing this for years," Mickelson said. "My family, we are financially secure, I don't remember how much time has passed. But it would have been very dangerous if I had not spoken to him. I also talked.

Mickelson says he has not left the PGA Tour, but is not sure if he will come with the PGA Tour.

“I have a lot, I got a lot from the PGA Tour,” Mickelsen said. “Smoking there, I worked hard to make the trip a success. I have worked hard all my life to be free. I don't want to give up.

"I don't know what that means in the future. I don't know what will happen. I won't let it go."

Although he is thought to have used LIV golf as a "lever" to make some changes during the PGA tour, Mickelsen still declined to comment.

"I have a very strong idea of ​​what needs to be improved," Mickelson said. "One of the mistakes I made was to make it public. So I try to keep these performances behind closed doors. To be very effective, I think it's the best way to get results."

Mickelson said he plans to play in the US Open next week at a country club in Brooklyn, Massachusetts, and is feeling better than he did a few months ago.

He said he was looking forward to the Masters Championship or PGA. But he didn’t feel like his game was too close.

"I used to watch Masters Sky Sports every morning," Mickelson said. "I'm glad to see it. I thought Scott Schaffler did a good job. I knew I lost the Masters, but I didn't want to be there. I didn't play. I didn't touch the club." I always miss when I'm gone, but I don't want to be there. "

He said he had similar views on the South Hills PGA Championship. Mickelsen was the first major champion in modern history to decide not to participate and to win.

It has become clear to me in a wide-ranging discussion that I can play if I want to. " "I decided not to."

At the end of the press conference, Mickelson couldn't help but smile when asked if he had received $ 200 million from LIV Golf for participating in the Startup League.

"I think the agreements should be private." "It doesn't seem like it, but it should."

Q&A Saudi Arabia has refused to sign an agreement with the League