"I'm ready to start playing the game I love again but after 32 years it's a new start on a different path," the 51-year-old American, winner of six major tournaments, wrote on his twitter account.

Absent from the greens since he expressed his support for this project at the start of the year, while criticizing the leaders of the PGA Tour, he is on the entry list for the first Super League tournament at the end of the week. in London.

In a biography written by journalist Alan Shipnuck, Mickelson explained that the "Saudi money" financing this new circuit offered golfers a "leverage" to "get things done with the PGA", while underlining the "record terrible human rights" of the Saudi kingdom.

He later apologized and decided to "take a step back", in particular ignoring the Masters and the PGA Championship.

In his statement posted on Twitter on Monday, Mickelson said he hopes the new circuit will "transform" his sport.

"It will bring balance, allowing me to focus on a healthier approach to life in and out of competition," he added.

During his absence, the Super League took off and attracted many big names in golf.

Last week the former world No.1 Dustin Johnson, winner of the US Open in 2016 and the Masters in 2020, who had assured in February that he would remain faithful to the PGA circuit, was thus at the top of a first list of 42 players due to take part in the inaugural LIV tournament, which will take place from June 9-11 at the Centurion Club in St Albans, north London.

This event, like the others to come, provides for an endowment of 25 million dollars (about 23 million euros), more than double each of the four Majors.

Not a single (PGA) event offers so much money.

Other former Major winners are on the list like Sergio Garcia or British star Ian Poulter, despite the warning from the PGA Tour.

“As we told all of our members on May 10, players affiliated with the PGA Tour were not allowed to participate in the tournament organized by the Saudi Golf League in London, in accordance with our regulations,” the body said last week in a statement.

“Also members who violate this regulation are subject to disciplinary sanctions,” adds the PGA Tour in this text.

© 2022 AFP