Phil Mickelson to kick off season at the Abu Dhabi Championship
Top European players Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, and Martin Kaymer have all reportedly decided not to join the PGA Tour this coming season, opting to play full-time on the European Tour.
While top European players foregoing PGA Tour membership could spell trouble down the road for the tour, one top American player has decided to kick off his season in Europe instead of
the States.
Phil Mickelson, the fourth-ranked golfer in the world and last year’s Masters champion, will play his first event of the 2011 season at the Abu Dhabi Championship in the United Arab Emirates,
held in late January, according to the Associated Press. The European Tour event runs the same week as the Bob Hope Classic on the PGA Tour.
"I've wanted to go to the UAE for a while, and this is the perfect time," said the four-time major champion. "It should give me great weather to work on my game, and it gives me a chance
to get to the UAE. The whole family is going, and they're pretty excited about it."
Mickelson will not be giving up his PGA Tour card anytime soon as he plans to fly directly to Torrey Pines after Abu Dhabi for the Farmers Insurance Open. But there is no doubt that the
40-year-old has taken a keen interest in promoting the game overseas, playing in last week’s HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, China. Moreover, he is getting involved in building golf courses and golf academies in China. He realizes the game has grown far
beyond U.S. borders in the last few years.
"I feel like there's an obligation as a player to try to bring the game to different parts of the world," he said. "The UAE, especially Abu Dhabi, and China seem to be our greatest growth
opportunities."
After Torrey Pines, Mickelson plans to play in five PGA Tour events before defending his title at the Masters in early April.
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