Mickelson To End Incredible Phoenix Open Run For Crown Prince's Cash, Grow The Game Opportunity

As Alex Myers notes, Phil Mickelson has made 30 Phoenix Open starts, including 27 in a row, but the ASU great will end that run this year to play the second ever European Tour event in Saudi Arabia. The event is the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, attempting to westernize the image of Saudi Arabia while regularly attacking journalists, including arresting more just last week on top of likely ordering the Jamal Koshaggi murder and dismemberment.

“I am really looking forward to playing in Saudi Arabia in January,” Mickelson told the Saudi Gazette. “I watched Dustin win the title last year and thought the course looked like an interesting challenge. Having so many talented players on show also made it look like a much more established tournament than one in its inaugural year. I have enjoyed my previous visits to the Middle East and am looking forward to playing in a new country and doing my bit to grow the game in the Kingdom.”

While other players deserve their fair share of grief for supporting the regime by accepting lavish appearance fees, Mickelson is too enlightened, worldly and successful to be falling back on the “grow the game” sham.

Given the Saudi stop’s date, this likely rules out Mickelson from playing his hometown Torrey Pines event. He skipped last year’s Farmers Insurance Open in an effort to target events with course design and setup more befitting his style of play. What the Saudi event does, besides replenish a bank account, is beyond me.