“Do it for the Saudi Royal Family!” – Phil Mickelson gets booed at N.J. LIV Golf event

“Do it for the Saudi Royal Family!” – Phil Mickelson gets booed at N.J. LIV Golf event

Phil Mickelson

As expected, American golfer Phil Mickelson didn’t have a usual outing on Friday as he stepped onto the course for his maiden outing at the LIV Golf event. The six-time Majors champion has received constant criticism for his decision to participate in the controversial Saudi-backed league. 

A bizarre incident took place as Mickelson, who was prepared to hit his tee shot on the par-3 hole marking his first under LIV Golf’s shotgun start rules, a heckler broke the silence with a biting commentary about who is paying his massive salary.

“DO IT FOR THE SAUDI ROYAL FAMILY!” the man yelled.

Following this, the crowd grumbled as the Californian golfer backed away from the ball while a security guard found the heckler according to multiple witnesses. He even warned the spectator that he would be ejected for any further outbursts but everyone knew that the damage had been done to the moment.

Also Read | “Let it go dude”: Phil Mickelson expresses annoyance after repeated LIV Golf and Champions dinner questions at 150th Open

“Had a really good day…People here have always been great”

Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson

The 52-year-old Mickelson knocked his tee shot into the greenside bunker, followed by nearly sending his sand shot into the water on the opposite side of the green. As a result, he made a bogey to mark the start of an awkward and at times surreal day.

“I had a really good day,” Mickelson said when asked about the heckler, as quoted by NJ.com. “The people here have always been great. They’ve always treated me well, and I had a really good day with the fans. I’m just a little frustrated with my game, to be honest. To three-putt the last two holes with makeable birdies, I’m just frustrated because I expect more of myself.”

“I don’t want to question it, because (the New York fans) have been so good to me,” Mickelson said before the 2019 PGA at Bethpage Black on Long Island. “It can be a difficult place to play or it can be a great place to play, and for me, it’s been a great place to play. I love coming back to play there. I love going to the area. I love playing in front of the New York fans.”

Also Read | “The hype is gone”: LIV Golf struggling to get foothold amongst golf fans, Phil Mickelson’s popularity drops drastically

Also Read | “Just hanging out with the gorillas”: Phil Mickelson records LIV Golf promo video from gorilla refuge in Rwanda