Close Menu
Sportstalk
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Soccer
  • More
    • Nascar
    • Golf
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Football
    • Tennis
    • WNBA
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Disclaimer
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Sportstalk
  • NFL

    Chances are strongly moving to Shedeur Sanders to the Saints

    April 12, 2025

    Derek Carr’s injury opens the door to Saints to take SheDer Sanders at n ° 9

    April 12, 2025

    Patriots, ravens, commanders develop FSU K Ryan Fitzgerald

    April 11, 2025

    Jalen Pitre, Texans agree on a three -year extension

    April 11, 2025

    Report: The NFL is looking for Audio 911 of the latest Incident of Tyreek Hill

    April 11, 2025
  • NBA

    NBA: Nikola Jokic makes history and the Lakers seal third place

    April 12, 2025

    NBA: Jimmy Butler Marque 24 as Warriors Top Blazers – Inquirer.net

    April 12, 2025

    Knicks secures the head of n ° 3 at the Eastern Conference, to face the pistons in the first round

    April 12, 2025

    Orlando Magic vs Indiana Pacers April 11, 2025 Box Scores – NBA

    April 12, 2025

    Cavaliers vs knicks predictions: ratings, choice of experts, recent statistics, trends and best bets for April 11

    April 11, 2025
  • NHL

    Rust puts a new career in a career while the Penguins beat Devils, 4-2

    April 12, 2025

    Sam Rinzel plays far beyond his years with Blackhawks

    April 12, 2025

    The Hockey News Big Show: What is the future of Brock Boecks?

    April 11, 2025

    Alexander Nikishin released from the KHL contract, to sign a two -year ELC with Carolina Hurricanes

    April 11, 2025

    Three take -out dishes: the speed of the panthers clip wings, Samoskevich continues to impress

    April 11, 2025
  • MLB

    Metting notes: Pete Alonso plays freely, the Rally of Jose Siri’s walking

    April 12, 2025

    Yankees Buthury Tracker: Marcus Stroman undergoes tests on the left knee after the start of Friday

    April 12, 2025

    Gregori Arias of the Marlins Minor League is suspended 56 games for a positive screening test

    April 11, 2025

    Fantasy Baseball Bull Paccn Brief: Stash to consider and to narrower situations that have our attention

    April 11, 2025

    Braves by Ronald Acuña Jr.

    April 11, 2025
  • Soccer

    Soccer and automatic learning: 2 hot topics for 2018 – Data Central Science

    April 12, 2025

    Inter Milan makes the offer of PSG Target in the middle of Liverpool, AC Milan Interest

    April 12, 2025

    Nice ideas to enjoy the World Cup as a family – Salon.com

    April 11, 2025

    “Thuram is crazy! I don’t know how Barella does it”

    April 11, 2025

    No Lionel Messi, no problem while Argentina at the head of the Uruguay: the message of Six words from Scaloni says a lot with 2026 FI … – World football talk

    April 11, 2025
  • More
    • Nascar
    • Golf
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Football
    • Tennis
    • WNBA
Sportstalk
Home»Golf»Defense of Phil Mickelson by Tiger Woods and other golfers playing in Saudi Arabia revolves around a delicate subject | Golf News and Tour Information
Golf

Defense of Phil Mickelson by Tiger Woods and other golfers playing in Saudi Arabia revolves around a delicate subject | Golf News and Tour Information

Kevin SmythBy Kevin SmythMay 28, 2024No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
1578581180567.jpeg
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

NEW PROVIDENCE, Bahamas — A recent winner and one of the game’s most high-profile players summed it up best when explaining the controversy surrounding Phil Mickelson’s decision to play next month in Saudi Arabia: “It’s a no-win situation.”

Even Tiger Woods agreed on this point. The 15-time major champion, who reportedly turned down an appearance fee of around $3 million to play the Saudi International on the European tour, did not necessarily do so out of political protest.

“I just don’t want to go,” Woods told ESPN.com. “It’s a long way.”

Woods admitted that the Saudi tournament, now in its second year, has more complications than an extended flight. The first edition of the event in 2019 took place just months after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post writer living in the United States who had criticized Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman and who was killed in interior of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. , Turkey. Saudi Arabia has also been criticized for other human rights violations.

The crown prince, whose government provides a $3.5 million purse as well as lucrative fees to a handful of players, was a prominent figure at last year’s tournament.

“I understand the politics behind it,” Woods said on the eve of his Hero World Challenge. “But golf can also help heal all of that. This can help develop that. There are also many other top players who will be playing that week.

“It’s not traditionally a hotbed of golf in the Middle East, but it’s grown significantly,” Woods continued. “I remember going to Dubai for the first time and seeing what, maybe two, three buildings on the skyline when you were playing at No. 8. Now there’s a New York skyline there. The game of golf has grown. There were only a few classes when I first went to Dubai, now they are everywhere; same in Abu Dhabi and perhaps eventually in Saudi Arabia.

Rory McIlroy has also reportedly turned down a large appearance fee for next year’s tournament, and Paul Casey has already openly stated that he will not be participating in the event.

Several other top players are expected to compete, however, including defending champion Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Henrik Stenson, Tony Finau and Open champion Shane Lowry.

Mickelson, meanwhile, opted to skip the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a tournament he has competed in since 1990, to take place in the Middle East. Although a handful of players Golf Digest spoke with found it curious that Mickelson, a five-time major winner with more than $90 million in career earnings, would skip the trip to TPC Scottsdale, most didn’t. critical.

“Anyone who criticizes Phil’s departure, if they were in the same position, would probably do the same thing,” one major winner told Golf Digest. “But it’s a little different when it comes to Phil because (the money from appearance fees) isn’t going to change his life.”

What comes into play in such decisions?

“If the right numbers are called, it can be hard to say no,” Rickie Fowler said when asked about the thought process behind the decision to play or not.

“Some guys like to travel, some guys don’t,” Fowler said. “Myself and (my wife) Allison love to experience new places, love culture, history and food. The most important thing for me when deals come in is knowing where they fit in the timeline and how they’re going to affect the things around them. Yes, money is a good thing, but if it doesn’t work out in terms of hours, it will outweigh a good salary.

According to Fowler, he prefers to play in Phoenix and will defend his title next year at TPC Scottsdale.

Regardless, players say they consider several factors when it comes to playing somewhere.

“There’s probably no amount of money I would take to go play in Hong Kong right now,” Jordan Spieth said, pointing to the ongoing protests that have paralyzed that city. “But it’s as much a safety issue as anything else.”

Although Spieth has not received an offer to play internationally for Saudi Arabia, he said that when it comes to his own schedule, the choices aren’t always easy.

“It can be tricky,” he said. “You have to weigh the money versus the commitment.”

For Mickelson and other players determined to play in Saudi Arabia, the backlash they receive is apparently worth it.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
kevinsmyth
Kevin Smyth

Related Posts

Phoenix tie for 13th at Music City Classic | Sporty

April 12, 2025

Cameron Smith dodges Liv’s Golf Questions after enjoying the open victory “ Géniale ” – The Independent

April 12, 2025

Bert Yancey got closer several times to win the masters

April 11, 2025

Could a driver decline be the next one? The chief of R&C technology said that it is “a subject of interest” – Golf Digest

April 11, 2025
Add A Comment
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest

Stan Smith: Tennis Great deplores the sport that fights against “many of the same problems that we had 50 years ago” after the PTPA trial

April 12, 2025

Kansas’ state of women’s state basketball, Serena Sunday, receives the invitation to the draft of the WNBA

April 12, 2025

Metting notes: Pete Alonso plays freely, the Rally of Jose Siri’s walking

April 12, 2025

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from sportstalk

Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
Hot Categories
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Soccer
We are social
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest Sports news from sportstalk

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Disclaimer
© 2025 Copyright 2023 Sports Talk. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.