As a golfer myself, I have always enjoyed the way Mickelson approached the game. He always goes for the most dramatic, most daring shot, even when missing it can cost him a tournament. The worst thing about golf is when you see someone who has a five stroke lead on Sunday morning just go out and try to shoot a 72 to hold on and win. Phil don't do that.
Personally, he speaks his mind and occasionally says things that are impolitic. He threatened to move out of California to get away from the onerous personal income tax - pretty lame coming from someone making $50 million a year. But so what? That's his opinion and his right.
The Saudi-backed professional league is an idea about which reasonable people can differ. Only in the "woke" media is every prominent person liable for any nefarious deed done by anyone associated with a prospective venture. It's a golf league, not a fundraiser for the Saudi Secret Police, for Christ sake. Why the **** would Phil give a shit about political matters in the sponsoring country? If they thought they could get away with it, the SJW's would cancel people for standing up for the National Anthem, since the U.S. is such a detestable, racist country.
**** 'em.
Phil bowed out because he didn't want the Media circus to detract from the event. Good for him. He did the right thing.