Phil Mickelson has expressed his “deepest condolences” to the families of those who lost loved ones in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks after receiving harsh criticism for his decision to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series .
A group representing the victims’ families and survivors accused Mickelson and a number of other high-profile American players of sports laundering and treason against their country by attending the event at the Centurion Club last week.
When asked about the letter from Terry Strada, the national chair of 911familiesunited.org, a visibly uncomfortable Mickelson said Monday: “I would say to the Strada family, I would say to anyone who was born on 9/11 that I have deep, deep empathy have for her. I can’t stress this enough. I have the deepest sympathy and empathy for her.”
When asked if he would reply to the letter privately, Mickelson largely repeated his earlier response. His comments cut little ice at Strada, whose husband was killed in the September 11 attacks.
“Phil knows exactly what he’s doing and he and his fellow LIV golfers should be ashamed,” she said. “You’re helping the Saudi regime launder its reputation in exchange for tens of millions of dollars, while our government presents further damning evidence of Saudi culpability for the 9/11 attacks.”
“As commissioner of the PGA Tour [Jay Monahan] said Sunday: ‘You’d have to live under a rock’ not to understand what it means to get involved with the Saudis.”
Mickelson and the other 16 PGA Tour members who attended the first LIV golf event without a permit were immediately suspended from the tour, although some had already canceled their memberships.
Mickelson doesn’t intend to do that and the 51-year-old said Monday that he would like to play on the PGA Tour again.
“I prefer to be able to choose which path I want, one way or the other way or both,” Mickelson said. “I feel like I’ve given back as much as I could to the PGA Tour and the game of golf in my 30 years here, and my accomplishments on the course have earned me a lifetime membership. I intend to keep that and then decide which events to play and which not to.”
With a win on Sunday, Mickelson would become the sixth player to complete a career grand slam, although he admits it will be difficult given his lack of competitive golf.
“It’s going to be a challenge, right. It’s the toughest test in golf,” said Mickelson, who shot over par last week in his first event since February 10 to finish 33rd with a tie. “I think it was important for me to play some competitive golf last week and identify some of the weak spots. It was one of the worst putting tournaments I’ve had in years.”
Elsewhere in the US Open field, Spaniard Jon Rahm will start early in his attempt to successfully defend his title at Brookline. Rahm, who won his first Major at Torrey Pines last year with birdies on the final two holes, will join Open champion Collin Morikawa and 2021 US amateur champion James Piot on Thursday at 7.18am local time (12.18pm BST). , knock off.
Rory McIlroy, who successfully defended his title at Sunday’s RBC Canadian Open, is also among the early starters from the 10th tee, the world No. 3 will be beaten by former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele at 7.40am accompanied. Mickelson starts his campaign at 1.47pm local time alongside Shane Lowry and Louis Oosthuizen.
Three-time winner Tiger Woods is not in the field after deciding to give his body more time to recover ahead of the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews next month.
Woods had obvious pain from the leg he almost lost in a 2021 car accident before retiring from the US PGA Championship after a third round of 79.