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sports Friday 14 OctOber 2022

An FBI seal is seen on a wall on Aug. 10, 2022, in Omaha, Neb.
Associated Press
FBI back at FIFA, teaming

up to protect the World Cup

ZURICH (AP) — The FBI has cials and led to FIFA's then-
been back at FIFA this president Sepp Blatter be-
Phil Mickelson watches the flight of his tee shot on the first hole during the second round of the week, working with soc- ing banned for financial
LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago tournament Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Sugar Grove, Ill. cer's governing body to misconduct.
Associated Press protect the World Cup in FIFA is teaming with the FBI
Mickelson says LIV on rise and PGA Qatar from potential crime also because the U.S. co-
including match-fixing.
hosts the next World Cup
Tour trending downward Federal investigators from with neighbors Canada
the United States joined and Mexico.
a panel meeting in Zurich The FBI "as the principal
By DOUG FERGUSON PGA Tour trending down- Mickelson was seen as a that included Interpol and law enforcement and in-
AP Golf Writer wards and I love the side chief recruiter for LIV Golf betting monitoring experts vestigative service of the
Back in Saudi Arabia for the that I'm on." leader Greg Norman, and to oversee "timely han- United States will be joining
first time since his dispar- Mickelson, Dustin John- it was his comments in Feb- dling of integrity matters" the group to contribute
aging remarks about the son, Brooks Koepka and ruary that slowed the inau- at the tournament that with its experience and
source of LIV Golf's funding, Bryson DeChambeau gural year of LIV Golf. starts on Nov. 20, FIFA said expertise, also in prepara-
Phil Mickelson said Thurs- were among several major In an interview with Alan on Thursday. tion for the FIFA World Cup
day he was glad he was on champions Saudi-funded Shipnuck, who published Their cooperation follows 2026," FIFA said.
the "winning side" and that LIV Golf signed to contracts an unauthorized biography more than seven years af- FIFA said its Integrity Task
he sees the PGA Tour trend- reported to be in the $125 of Mickelson in May, the ter a United States federal Force will monitor "betting
ing downward. million range. six-time major champion investigation and related markets and in-game ac-
Mickelson had said a LIV Golf currently has 12 referred to the Saudis as Swiss case was unsealed tion in real time" for the 64
month ago that while the of the top 50 players in "scary mother(expletives) that removed a swath of games being played in
PGA Tour had all the best the world ranking — British to get involved with." international soccer offi- Qatar.q
players in the world for the Open champion Cameron "We know they killed
last 20 to 30 years, that Smith at No. 2 is the highest, (Washington Post reporter
would never be the case while the majority of them Jamal) Khashoggi and This summer has made And eventually they come
again. are outside the top 25 be- have a horrible record on clear the big divide in golf, around and they will be
He came out even stron- cause LIV Golf hasn't re- human rights. They execute with the PGA Tour and Eu- accepting of it."
ger in a news conference ceived world ranking points people over there for be- ropean tour wanting no Mickelson, 52, signed with
for the LIV Golf Invitational- since it began in June. ing gay. Knowing all of this, part of anyone who has LIV Golf in June, one year
Jeddah, which starts Friday The PGA Tour still has a ma- why would I even consider signed to play with LIV Golf. after he became the old-
at Royal Greens in King jority of the current stars it? Because this is a once- The U.S. Open and British est major winner at the
Abdullah Economic City. — 19 of the top 20 — and in-a-lifetime opportunity Open had allowed LIV Golf 2021 PGA Championship
"I think going forward you starts a new schedule in to reshape how the PGA players to compete if they for his sixth major title.
have to pick a side. You 2023 that will bring the best Tour operates," Mickelson is were eligible, though both In six appearances with
have to pick what side do players together some 15 quoted as saying. organizations spoke out LIV Golf, he has registered
you think is going to be suc- times a year playing for $20 The interview was published against the rival league. only one top 10 — a tie for
cessful. And I firmly believe million prize funds. two weeks after Mickelson The Royal & Ancient asked eighth outside Chicago,
that I'm on the winning side These are some of the played in the Saudi Interna- Norman not to take part in seven shots behind Smith.
of how things are going to changes Mickelson want- tional at Royal Greens. the 150th anniversary cel- He contends LIV Golf has
evolve and shape in the ed all along. The PGA Tour Mickelson issued a state- ebration at St. Andrews in reinvigorated him and
coming years for profes- has suspended him and ment after the interview July. made him excited to com-
sional golf," Mickelson said. other members who signed saying his comments were Mickelson said golf is "very pete.
"We play against a lot of with LIV Golf, which is the off the record and shared lucky" to have Saudi Ara- "I love the experience. I
the best players in the world main plaintiff in an antitrust without context. bia's sovereign wealth fund love the way they treat us.
on LIV and there are a lot lawsuit scheduled for a On Thursday he said, "I invest in the sport. Along I love the way they involve
of the best players in the January 2024 trial. never did an interview with with enormous money paid us and listen to us in deci-
world on the PGA TOUR. LIV Golf has 48-man fields Alan Shipnuck. And I find to LIV Golf players and sions," he said. "I mean it's so
And ... until both sides sit with no cut over 54 holes that my experience with purses, it has invested $300 inclusive. ... LIV Golf is lead-
down and have a conver- playing for $25 million each everybody associated with million in the Asian Tour. ing. Whether it's (wearing)
sation and work something week. Dustin Johnson al- LIV Golf has been nothing "Now the United States and shorts, whether it's other
out, both sides are going to ready has made over $30 but incredibly positive and I the U.K. are not favorable aspects of professional golf
continue to change and million, including an $18 have the utmost respect for to this," Mickelson said. that are going to change
evolve. And I see LIV Golf million bonus for clinching everybody that I've been "But everywhere outside in and evolve, those positions
trending upwards, I see the the individual points race. involved with." the world, LIV Golf is loved. will be led by LIV."q