Mickelson Way Off Base With Saudi-Backed Golf Tour Comments
By Ken Reed
I’ve been a long-time fan of Phil Mickelson. He treats fans and the media better than any pro golfer since Arnold Palmer. He’s known as the best caddie tipper on tour. But his comments about a proposed Saudi-backed alternative pro golf tour were VERY, VERY disappointing. Unless his recent quotes about the Saudi-tour weren’t accurate, or were taken out of context in some way, I am definitely down on Mickelson right now.
“They’re scary m……f…..s to get involved with,” Mickelson said of Saudi Arabia. “We know they killed [Washington Post reporter and US resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights.
“They execute people over there for being gay. 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.
On the other hand, my admiration for Rory McElroy has spiked upwards after his comments about Mickelson’s take on the Saudi tour.
“I don’t want to kick someone while he’s down obviously, but I thought they were naive, selfish, egotistical, ignorant,” he said.
“It was just very surprising and disappointing, sad. I’m sure he’s sitting at home sort of rethinking his position and where he goes from here.”
I get how Phil might want some leverage in order to help change some of the things with the PGA Tour he doesn’t like, but using a corrupt Saudi regime for his leverage is simply unethical and plain wrong.
Here’s hoping that Mickelson is indeed at home rethinking his position.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans

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"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
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