Phil Mickelson commits to Saudi-backed LIV Golf

Phil Mickelson has confirmed his commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) backed controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series set to get underway in England.

Mickelson, 54, is being paid up to $200 million to join LIV Golf and return to the game after a hiatus that began in February when his explosive comments about the big-money challenger series were made public.

While Mickelson acknowledged Saudi Arabia's "horrible” human rights record, including the murder of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashogg, he said working with the Saudis was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape the PGA Tour by creating a new series of tournaments with a different format.

Mickelson will compete in a field of 48 at the Centurion Club, which includes two-time major champion Dustin Johnson, who was reportedly paid US$125 million to leave the PGA Tour and join LIV Golf.

Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, and Martin Kaymer are among the veteran European Ryder Cup stars on the LIV Golf course. It's unclear whether the DP World Tour, to which their Ryder Cup participation is linked, or the PGA Tour will punish those players.

South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, and Branden Grace have reportedly resigned from the PGA Tour, joining Kevin Na, a Korean-American journeyman, to compete for the US$25 million prize pool at the inaugural LIV Golf event.

The Centurion tournament is the first of eight LIV Golf events that will take place this year. The series will be expanded to 14 events in the coming years.