Phil Mickelson complains about PGA Tour's 'obnoxious greed'
Phil Mickelson, who has made $800m in his golfing career, makes incredible complaint about the sport’s ‘obnoxious greed’ – because the PGA Tour isn’t paying him even more cash!
- Phil Mickelson’s career earnings on the PGA Tour stand at just under $100million
- The sponsorship money that has flowed his way is estimated at $500million
- But the 51-year-old claimed the PGA Tour is preventing him from earning more
- Mickelson claimed the Tour’s greed is making him consider other opportunities
- Saudi-backed Super Golf League has contacted top players with lucrative offers
Phil Mickelson’s career earnings on the PGA Tour stand at just under $100million (£74m). His tour pension pot must be worth at least $200m (£147m).
The sponsorship money that has flowed his way, mostly due to the air-time he gets owing to the reverence the PGA Tour commands in the boardrooms of corporate America, is estimated at $500m (£368m).
Bear that in mind when taking in an extraordinary interview the 50-year-old leftie has just given to Golf Digest, whilst playing in the Saudi International.
Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has hit out at the PGA Tour’s ‘obnoxious greed’
The PGA Championship winner has reportedly made a staggering $800m in career earnings
In it he rants about the ‘obnoxious greed’ of the PGA Tour in not allowing him to earn far more, saying it is a key factor as to why he is ‘looking at opportunities elsewhere.’
By other opportunities, Mickelson is of course referring to the Saudi-backed Super Golf League (SGL) who have reportedly contacted ‘pretty much every player in the top 100’.
Five future Ryder Cup captains, including Ian Poulter Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell, were reported to be sitting on £20m offers, while Lee Westwood revealed that he has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that prevents him from discussing the issue.
Ian Poulter was quizzed over an offer from the Saudis to join their proposed new global league
Lee Westwood has signed a non-disclosure agreement regarding the Super Golf League
Former World No 1, Dustin Johnson, has also hinted he has an NDA, while Bryson DeChambeau has been offered a staggering £100m to be the face of the Saudi golf revolution.
The Saudi-backed league has divided the golf community with many believing it will kill off the sport but Mickelson claims it is the PGA Tour’s own greed that has created the threat of the SGL.
Mickelson’s big complaint concerns media rights. ‘It’s not public knowledge all that goes on,’ he began.
Former World No 1 Dustin Johnson pleaded an NDA when asked about Poulter’s reported deal
Bryson DeChambeau has been offered £100million to be the face of the Saudi golf revolution
‘If the tour wanted to end the Saudi threat or from anywhere else they would just hand the rights back to the players.
‘But they would rather throw $25m (£18m) here or $40m (£29m) there than give back the roughly $20billion in digital assets they control.’
Are you in Phil’s corner so far, as he details what must be the ultimate in First World grievances?
Or feeling like this is yet more evidence that the Saudi money is causing some of the top players to truly lose their minds?
Mickelson claimed the Tour’s greed is a key factor why he is ‘looking at other opportunities’
Players assign their media rights to the PGA Tour upon taking membership, which dates back to more than 50 years ago when players led by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Bob Goalby broke from the PGA of America and eventually formed the PGA Tour.
As the Tour owns a player’s media rights, it can take a fee whenever those players appear on television outside of a Tour event and requires players to ask for permission to play at competing tournaments.
Mickelson referenced his participation in The Match, claiming that the Tour ‘forced him to pay them $1m each time’ for his own media rights. ‘That type of greed is, to me, beyond obnoxious,’ he added.
He also explained that his infamous approach shot from the pine on the par-5 13th during his 2010 Masters win would cost someone $30,000 per second to use.
A shot from the 51-year-old’s 2010 Masters win reportedly costs $30,000 per second to use
For the PGA Tour’s part, they politely point out that the digital assets are not all about Phil.
They stress their business model is consistent with other professional sports in relying on media assets to maximise revenue. Around 55 per cent of the tour’s revenue will be directed back to the players.
‘I’m not sure how this is going to play out,’ said Mickelson, who added the reason why players refuse to get mic’d up at events is because there’s no financial sweetener.
‘My ultimate loyalty is to the game of golf and what it has given me. I don’t know where this is headed but I know I will be criticised.’ At least he got something right.
On the course, Italian Matteo Manassero, once the wonderkid of European golf but now outside the world’s top 500 and scratching a living on the Asian Tour, shot a fine 62 to upstage the lavishly-paid star names.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson fared best of the latter group with a 65 while Tommy Fleetwood shot an encouraging 66.
Golf’s current tours explained
What is the Asian Tour?
It’s the principal men’s professional golf tour in Asia, which is now looking to use its Saudi-backed riches to challenge the two most established competitions: the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. The Saudis are also looking to start a global circuit for the elite, known as the Super Golf League, poaching stars with eye-watering offers.
What is the PGA Tour?
It’s the flagship professional golf tour where players compete in events mostly in the United States and North America. The biggest tournaments, the biggest players, the biggest prize money. The best player on tour wins the FedEx Cup.
What is the DP World Tour?
The new name of the European Tour, which was the main professional golf tour in Europe but long seen as secondary to the PGA Tour. Hence the rebrand. Players compete across lots of different countries, including Japan, South Africa and Belgium — for more money than before. The best player over the season wins the Race to Dubai.
Can players compete in more than one tour?
Yes. Many do, such as Rory McIlroy. To do so, players must participate in four DP Tour events over the season. That does not include the four majors, as they are combined events of both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
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