Phil Mickelson commented on the Saudi-financed Super Golf League. (3:39)
Many committed players backed out of Greg Norman's new golf league because of Phil Mickelson's controversial comments about the Saudi Arabia and the PGA Tour.
At least 30% of the top 50 players in the world have committed to play in the new league, according to Norman.
Norman, a two-time winner of The Open and CEO of LIV Golf Investments, said thatMickelson's comments hurt a lot. It hurt the tour. It hurt us. The game of golf was hurt by it. It hurt Phil. Across all fronts. It was not just for us. It definitely created negative vibes against us.
Norman said the proposed league, which was being financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, was prepared to launch its 14-event schedule and roster of committed players during the week of the Genesis invitational. Alan Shipnuck published an interview on the website FirePitCollective.com about his upcoming unauthorized biography of golfer Phil Mickelson.
In the interview, which Shipnuck said took place in November, Mickelson called the Saudi Arabians "scary motherf---ers" and said he was only willing to get involved with the new league to have leverage with the PGA Tour.
It's... They have a horrible record on human rights, and they execute people for being gay. Why would I consider it if I knew all of this? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change how the PGA Tour operates.
Several players on the tour pledged their loyalty to the tour in the next few days, after Mickelson was criticized for his comments.
Norman said that they were ready to launch on the Tuesday or Wednesday of Genesis. The PGA Tour threatened people with lifetime bans when all of that happened.
Norman said a few of the players who had previously signed with LIV Golf have remained committed to play in the series.
The total prize money for the eight events will be $255 million, and the seven regular-season tournaments will have total purses of $25 million, which would be the richest in professional golf, with $20 million in individual prizes and $5 million for the top three teams.
The $30 million bonus will be shared by the top three individuals after the seven regular-season events.
The season-ending team match-play championship will give another $50 million in prizes.
Norman said that the players under contract are still signed. Guys had money in their pockets.
In the last three months, Phil has not played in a tour event. He missed the Masters for the first time since 1994.
Steve Loy, the agent for Phil Mickelson, said last week that he has registered to play in the upcoming PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. The first LIV Golf Invitational Series event in London will feature a release from the PGA Tour.
Lefty hasn't decided if he will play in any of those events.
Norman said he would be welcome at any tournament.
Norman said that he was always going to have an open door. He has a few things to work out with the PGA Tour and where he wants to go with them. I haven't spoken with Phil so I can't read his mind. I will always be consistent in my respect for Phil. I respect what he has done for the game of golf, and he will always have an open door to any tournament he wants to play in.
More than 200 registration requests have been received for the first tournament of LIV Golf, which will include 48 players competing on 12 four-man teams. The list of players who have registered includes about 15 of the top 100 players in the Official World Golf Ranking and two players who were previously ranked at the top.
Norman said he was pleasantly surprised by what had been said in the media. We know what is happening with a lot of interest. We have a lot of interest from players that are well-known. Our mission is to be patient, and we are going to deliver these events and it is up to the players to make their decision on what they want to do as independent contractors.
Players on the tour will have to give up their tour privileges to play in the other tournament because it conflicts with the Canadian Open. Several players from the European Tour have registered for the LIV.
The European tour is starting to warn the players about the consequences if they go play. That is logical rhetoric from the European tour. They have to sing the same song that the PGA Tour was singing because they are partners with the tour.
After the PGA Championship in May 2021, Jay Monahan told the players that anyone who joined the Saudi-financed league would be suspended and face a lifetime ban from the PGA Tour.
I can only speak on information given to me by our legal team, and I have an extremely talented legal team in antitrust and anti-competitive laws, and we believe we are in the right position.
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