A half-century ago, novelist Mario Puzo imagined a character not unlike present-day Phil Mickelson: a once-loyal soldier who fancies himself the smartest guy in the room but who, feeling underappreciated and shortchanged, comes undone in a bumbling effort to help hostile forces muscle in on the family business. The fictional Fredo and the real-life Phredo also share another trait, albeit one easily forgotten as Mickelson confidently chirps at critics on social media — a willingness to overlook murder and abuse when it suits their selfish interests.
He was explicitly clear on that when speaking about his Saudi benefactors at LIV Golf to journalist Alan Shipnuck. “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,” he said in comments made public 15 months ago. “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.”
