Rory McIlroy on Phil Mickelson's attempt to recruit PGA players for the new Saudi tour

[Swede]

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=9sGW0HU5iVQg9_mZsnMmeQ

[BlueJac]

1. I'm starting to dislike golfers after seeing that.

Athletes are making way too much money these days!

[tishaLA]

2. He makes a reported $750 million from contracts w/sponsors

Here are some:
Amgen
Callaway Golf
Heineken
Rolex
These companies should hear from consumers about someone willing to cozy up to a regime that beheads people, kills gay people, and treats women...well, "poorly" doesn't begin to describe it.

[lame54]

3. Stay out of the grass traps

[MLAA]

4. A couple of years ago Phil was a tone deaf idiot about taxes.

Since then I have not cheered for him.

https://www.businessinsider.com/phil-mickelson-taxes-leaving-california-2013-1

[crickets]

5. Phil Mickelson should know better. Good on Rory McIlroy for speaking up.

eta for context
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/rory-mcilroy-saudi-golf-league-dead

Mickelson’s remarks about the proposed Saudi-backed golf league that would rival the PGA Tour came in an interview with author Alan Shipnuck, whose book, "Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar," is scheduled for a May release. [snip]

"They’re scary motherf------ to get involved with," Mickelson reportedly said. "We know they killed [Washington Post reporter 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.

"They’ve been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse. As nice a guy as [PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan] comes across as, unless you have leverage, he won’t do what’s right. And the Saudi money has finally given us that leverage. I’m not sure I even want [the Saudi golf league] to succeed, but just the idea of it is allowing us to get things done with the [PGA] Tour."

Just... wow. Given the remarks he was responding to, Rory's comments were restrained and kind.

[SheilaAnn]

6. Phil is a jerk, always has been, and generally speaking, just not a nice guy..n/t

[BlueIdaho]

7. This stupid fucking idea

Is DOA. Mickelson and Greg Norman are going to have to eat a lot of crow before they tee off at a PGA event again.

[PJMcK]

8. Good on you, Rory

McIlroy is a gentleman and a terrific golfer. Good for him for shaming Mickelson.

I think he's right. Norman and Mickelson will have a lot of explaining ahead of them.

Additionally, Mickelson has had a grudge with the PGA for a long time. Why aren't the majority of the other players standing with Phil? Maybe he's fundamentally wrong.

I like Mickelson. He's a creative genius on the course and he joyfully interacts with the fans unlike many other prima donnas on the Tour. But when he sticks his foot in his mouth, his metal cleats get stuck and he looks like an ass.

Fix it, Phil. And shut up.

[Iggo]

9. I agree with him on all but the "surprising" part.

Oh and, Phil: Pay Your Taxes.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Beat Me To It!

The last thing it would be is surprising.
He's a complete tool, & always has been.
He got "fired" by his financial manager after he told a golf channel interviewer that he does all his own investing & negotiating.
That same guy put Mickelson in a position where he was worth 20 times more than his combined purses in just 15 years.
Afterward, he supposedly dumped everything into a bunch of funds & a trust, because even he knows he doesn't know what he's doing around the markets.
He's a liar & a jerk.
Rory isn't surprised. He's thinking it's more diplomatic to say that.

[maxrandb]

11. So, essentially, quite a few pro golfers and the PGA Commissioner are whores

and now they're just negotiating price.

[orwell]

12. Pretty much describes...

...the whole "Maga" movement in a nutshell.

An apt description of the current CONservative as well.

Good on Rory...