Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson issued a lengthy statement Tuesday addressing comments he made in an interview about plans for a Saudi-backed golf league to rival the PGA Tour, adding that he "desperately (needs) some time away" from golf.
At issue was an excerpt of a book author Alan Shipnuck shared online last week, in which Mickelson called Saudi businessmen "scary m-----f-----s to get involved with." He admitted he was using their interest in launching a rival league as leverage to get players more money from the tour via enhanced media rights.
"We know they killed (Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal) Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay," Mickelson said. "Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."
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