‘You are here for one thing and one thing only’ – Phil Mickelson branded a ‘liar’ as Simon Jordan urges LIV Golf rebels to come clean over motives

Simon Jordan has branded Phil Mickelson a ‘liar’ – and is urging the rest of LIV Golf’s players to come clean about their motives.

The Saudi-backed breakaway series began in St Albans on Thursday, featuring the likes of Dustin Johnson, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.

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Players have been offered tens of millions to defy the PGA Tour and compete in the new-look event, but face difficult questions over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and sportswashing, throwing up even more problematic answers.

As golf’s civil war comes to a head at the Centurion Club, just outside London, Mickelson and co. were put in front of the media to address the controversy, with most offering unconvincing explanations at best.

Graeme McDowell said he was ‘proud to help Saudi Arabia on their journey’ while addressing the ‘reprehensible’ alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, others delivered dubious arguments about trying to ‘grow the game’, and some pleaded total ignorance.

Meanwhile, Lee Westwood’s whataboutery was thrown back at him by a journalist who stumped both him and Ian Poulter by asking if they would compete in a tournament hosted by Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Mickelson’s press conference on Wednesday marked his first appearance in front of the assembled press since he sparked outrage with comments about the Saudi regime four months ago.

The six-time Major winner, who has accepted £160m to front LIV Golf, called the Saudis ‘scary m************’ and admitted he was using them to gain leverage on the PGA Tour during a conversation with his unofficial biographer in February.

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Asked whether his motives really just come down to money, Mickelson said: “I don’t necessarily agree with your premise.

“But I think the opportunity that it provides to play, compete, bring the sport throughout the world, play less, have a better balance in life on and off the golf course…

“I know it gives me a lot of positives personally and professionally and I believe it does the same for everyone else in the field.”

The revolutionary format, featuring 54 holes, 48 players, no cut line, team elements and shotgun starts, will be broadcast on a YouTube stream, with 21 of its competitors outside the world’s top 150.

While Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler are set to join Johnson as genuine big-name attractions, all-but one of the game’s top 20 players have turned down fortunes to keep their morals and sporting legacies in tact.

Rory McIlroy, the fiercest critic among players, said on Wednesday: “Any decision you make in your life that is purely for money usually doesn’t end up going the right way.”

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Johnson, Garcia, Kevin Na, Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen all resigned from the PGA Tour to avoid bans and sanctions, with the Tour later declaring they had suspended all players involved in the Saudi series.

The USGA has however confirmed LIV Golf’s players will be allowed to compete at the US Open and it remains to be seen how the other Majors will react, but Official World Golf Ranking points are yet to be secured by the rushed-through project, and non-exempt players would need those to qualify in future.

Amid all these complications, in the eyes of many, LIV Golf exists for two reasons: to launder Saudi Arabia’s reputation and to make millionaire players even richer.

Like most onlookers, ex-Crystal Palace chairman Jordan has grown fed up with arguments to the contrary and wishes LIV Golf’s disruptors would just admit to money-grabbing.

On Mickelson’s comments, Jordan told talkSPORT: “I think he’s a liar. You either agree or disagree.

“Here’s a very simple answer to the question: I’m going to this golf tour for the money.

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“Have the courage of your convictions. All this claptrap about how they’re bringing it to the world.”

He added: “None of these players are going anywhere for anything else other than the outlandish amount of money that is being paid. This about nothing more and nothing less than money.

“This is not about brand representation, this is not about ambassadorial stuff, this is not about bringing the West’s influence to change the culture of these countries.

“This is about money. That’s fine. Just say it.

“Let’s rephrase the question. You are here for one thing and one thing only: money.”