How do you feel about Pro golfer's like Phil Mickelson joining a Saudi golf tour for a 600million dollar pay day?

[ChiTown33]

I got in heated discussion about this today with somebody. Their argument was "It was un-American". To which I said, 1. How is the PGA tour an American entity? It takes the best players from around the world. Secondly, the free market is deciding. The PGA tour has the option to pay Mickelson more? What's more American than that?
What say you?

[loveslongnails]

The PGA has always been a bunch of white, elitist pricks. Formed in 1929, they had a "Caucasians Only" clause in effect until 1961, when the PGA of America finally dropped the Caucasians Only clause and Charlie Sifford became the first African American member of the PGA Tour. This was still 14 years after Jackie Robinson broke the modern day color barrier in baseball. In 2020, there was STILL no member of color at Shoal Creek in Alabama where the PGA Championship was to be played, and the event was nearly moved until they admitted a black member.

So... the PGA can suck ass for all I care, and let them suspend all the players who enter a Saudi event. Dirty money people say? LOL. That's a joke - what's more "American" than getting into bed with the Saudi's? The USA has been bedfellows with them for years!! The PGA is trying to control the market, and learning that they can't.

The PGA will soon become a glorified "web. com" tour, getting good players, but not the world's best. Remember too, the majors are not PGA events, so they can each decide who gets to play. The fact is - the players now do not need the PGA Tour to make big money, and the PGA is pissed off about it. Go Phil (who is otherwise pretty much a goofball), go Dustin, go anybody who wants to.

[ChiTown33]

Clearly you know more about golf history then me. I love that you're pointing out the PGA's hypocrisy. I don't buy what Mickelson is saying either. That he's doing this because he's an ambassador of the game so to speak and so this is good for golf. It's good for Phil wallet! And that's why he's doing it. And as well he should I say.

[loveslongnails]

Golf history is very interesting, and filled with lots of highs, lows, hypocrisy, racism and great character stories. The "good of the game" shit went out the window a long time ago when money became the driving force. Even Arnold Palmer, one of golf's greatest ambassadors, recognized that more money had to be brought into play. But in today's game, you don't stand much of a chance to make the big money unless you come from money. Of course there are exceptions, but it's rare.

The whole situation is ironically amusing to me, as an amateur golfer. It's like watching a movie where there really are no good guys, so who do you root for? There's already a lot of money in the game for the top players, and now there's going to be more for the top players but more for some of the lesser names too. Good for them, and screw the PGA.

[lightbulb27]

I had no idea, the pay day on professional sports is insane, that's why I don't bother watching. Go ahead though, I don't care.
600 million... we need to stop buying so much oil...

As well, I wouldn't step food in some of those countries due to their laws and how they treat people. That is not america... it's a kingdom. get caught with drugs, if you are a female... you may end up enslaved fast in front of a Muslim judge that takes no mercy on you. No thanks.

[ChiTown33]

This is a good point. Phil and company may find they regret it. The PGA Tour may feel they own your celebrity when you play for them.. But when you play for the Saudi Royal family they probably feel they own you. Then again I'm sure they have different rules there for the star power of Mickelson.

[Anonymous]

Saudi Arabia is a client state of the American Empire, it doesn't get more American than that. Be a different story if it was Iran or Russia

[loveslongnails]

Exactly.

[Levin]

I mean, what do you need 600 million dollars for?

A lot of these celebrities, sports people, stars seem very willing to sell what remains of their soul.

[spartan55]

The whole tour is funded by Saudi money which disgusts me personally. Saudi Arabias human rights record and their connection to 9/11 are both despicable. That being said the almighty dollar is king for most, so it's not surprising.

[ChiTown33]

Fair nuff. I get what you're saying I can respect that take on it. You're not wrong on their human rights record. I guess the way I look at it, the money still spends just the same.

[BCA6010]

I enjoy playing golf, but I couldn't care less about the professional side of it. Golf has also never been a uniquely American event or hobby, either.

[andreasderjuengere]

Golfing to me is a decadent perversion.
So this Phil so-and-so found the right company in the Saudi's.

[In_Trance]

nobody has that kind of money. fake news

[SlightlyEccentric]

One word: Sellouts