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‘Do it for the Saudi royal family!’: Phil Mickelson is heckled on the first tee of the controversial LIV Golf event at the Trump National Golf Club, forcing him to walk away from his ball… and then finds the bunker with his eventual shot!
Phil Mickelson was heckled as he teed off at the controversial LIV Golf event in New Jersey on Friday, with one fan shouting: ‘Do it for the Saudi royal family!’
Mickelson endured a miserable day at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, ending four over – 11 shots off the lead – after the opening round.
His day started off in uncomfortable fashion, too, after he was forced to step away from his ball on the 16th tee following abuse from the crowd.
He found a bunker when he eventually took his tee shot and then bogeyed the hole.
The build-up to this three-day event has been dominated by rancour and recrimination, with the families of 9/11 victims among those criticising players and Donald Trump for joining forces with the Saudi-funded LIV series.
They protested near the course Friday morning, accusing the players of helping the Kingdom with ‘sportswashing’.
Phil Mickelson was heckled as he teed off at the controversial LIV Golf event in New Jersey
He was forced to step away from his ball on the 16th tee following abuse from the crowd
Most fans inside the gates were supporters of Trump and his tournament.
One, however, did reignite the controversy over LIV amid concerns over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
Mickelson was asked afterwards whether he was disappointed by the abuse.
Mickelson endured a miserable day at the Trump National Golf Club, ending four over
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is shown with his excellency Yasir Al Rumayyan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s personal banker and Governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, at his golf course on Thursday amid a wave of criticism from the families of 9/11 victims
‘No, I had a really good day. The people here have always been great. They’ve really treated me well. I had a really good day with the fans,’ he insisted.
‘I’ve always enjoyed playing in this area. We had a great day thereafter. I thought it was a good day all around. I didn’t really think much of it.’
The 52-year-old added: ‘I’m just a little frustrated with my game, to be honest. It doesn’t feel that far off. I don’t feel lost, I’m just not scoring.
‘To three-putt the last two holes with makeable birdies, I’m just frustrated because I expect more of myself. I’m going to work on it until I get it fixed.
Mickelson, who found the bunker on the 16th tee, said he was not disappointed by the abuse
Mickelson has become one of the faces of the controversial Saudi-backed rival LIV series.
Prior to this week’s event he insisted he had no regrets about signing up for the big-money LIV circuit, which has sparked a huge row in the game and led to him being banned from the PGA Tour.
The American said: ‘I made the right decision for me and I’m excited about having the opportunity to play competitive golf and have it in my life in a more moderate scale to where I can do some things outside of that too. I freed up a lot of other time as well.
‘I couldn’t be happier. I think it’s been really good. I can’t wait to get to New Jersey and play another event there.’
Mickelson faced a barrage of disapproval after remarks were made public earlier this year in which he criticized the Saudi government for its ‘horrible’ human rights record but said he would use the prospect of LIV Golf to gain economic leverage over the PGA Tour.
Mickelson apologized for his remarks and announced in February that he was taking time away from the game, opting out of the Masters and his title defense at the PGA Championship.
Saudi Arabia’s government denies accusations of human rights abuses.
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