Phil Mickelson’s decision to play in the Saudi International in late January brings golf and politics together in an uncomfortable way.
Mickelson announced this week he will play the European Tour event rather than make his usual stop at the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, joining a handful of the game’s top stars in Saudi Arabia despite the country’s human-rights issues.
Mickelson isn’t alone. Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau, Patrick Reed and others have committed to playing in the event, which is part of the European Tour’s annual swing through the Middle East.
Politics?
Human-rights abuses?
Should they matter to professional golfers?
Or do appearance fees and contract incentives matter more?
In responding on Twitter to criticism, Mickelson posted, “After turning down opportunities to go to the Middle East for many years, I’m excited to go play and see a place in the world I’ve never been. I understand those who are upset or disappointed. You’ll be OK. I’m excited to experience this for the first time.”
To some players, there are moral reasons not play in Saudi Arabia. For others, the game is their business and they go where the money takes them.
There was immediate and understandable pushback on social media after Mickelson made the announcement. He initially said he was doing it to help grow the game, a convenient answer to the difficult question of why he would go to a nation accused of murdering a journalist, among other things.
He also said he is interested in seeing a new country. His last appearance in the Middle East was in Abu Dhabi in 2014.
In responding on Twitter to criticism, Mickelson posted, “After turning down opportunities to go to the Middle East for many years, I’m excited to go play and see a place in the world I’ve never been. I understand those who are upset or disappointed. You’ll be OK. I’m excited to experience this for the first time.”
An unnecessary touch of snark there.
Maybe it’s just about golf, not about politics. Or maybe that’s the easy way to look at it.
“I’m not a politician. I play golf,” Johnson, who won the inaugural event, said last year.
Justin Rose said a similar thing explaining his presence last year.
Tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal backed out of a planned exhibition in Saudi Arabia last year due to heavy criticism.
The country is using sports in an attempt to improve its image around the world, committing $650 million to attract international sports events, according to a story in The New York Times.
Obviously, the European Tour is comfortable with hosting an event in Saudi Arabia and the Ladies European Tour also has an event scheduled there. If PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan wanted to push back, he could. He didn’t.
When Jon Rahm, the European Tour’s 2019 Race to Dubai winner, was asked Tuesday about whether he will play in Saudi Arabia next year, he tap-danced around the question. Because he now lives in Phoenix and likes to play the Farmers Insurance Open the week before the Phoenix/Saudi Arabia overlap, Rahm has a convenient out.
Tiger Woods, who has reportedly turned down large appearance fees to play in Saudi Arabia, pointed to the growth in golf in the Middle East as a compelling reason some players will choose to go, sidestepping politics.
Mickelson had to know the blowback was coming when he announced he would play the Saudi event. There are golf tournaments every week around the world. Choosing to play in Saudi Arabia may come with a big paycheck but it also comes at a price.
CHIP SHOTS
• Interesting news that Frank Nobilo is joining the CBS Sports golf broadcast team full time, completing the makeover that includes Davis Love III, Trevor Immelman, Andrew Catalon (to handle tower duties when Jim Nantz is away), Mark Immelman and Michelle Wie. Dottie Pepper will move into the primary on-course reporter role, replacing Peter Kostis.
Wie will work on various multimedia platforms for CBS Sports, including some Masters work.
• It’s a small thing but a big thing – Rickie Fowler returns this week at the Hero World Challenge.
Fowler hasn’t played a tournament since the Tour Championship in August, taking an extended break around his wedding. Fowler had planned to return at Mayakoba last month but pushed it back to this week due to a bout with food poisoning, just in time to get in some competitive rounds before joining the U.S. Presidents Cup team in Australia, where he was named a replacement for the injured Koepka.
Fowler said he’s been working on his game at home in South Florida, playing with Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland and Woods.
“I’ve actually been playing really well,” Fowler said.
Fowler was a logical choice to replace Koepka given his experience in team events and the ease with which he can play with any potential partner. Fowler also loves the style of golf Royal Melbourne will demand with its firm, fast, linksy feel.