LIV’s Phil Mickelson glad to have picked ‘winning side’ in battle with PGA Tour

• American says Saudi-backed tour is on an upward trend
• 52-year-old had previously described Saudis as scary'

Back in Saudi Arabia for the first time since his disparaging remarks about the source of LIV Golf's funding, Phil Mickelson said on Thursday he was glad he was on the winning side" and that he sees the PGA Tour trending downward.

I think going forward you have to pick a side," he said at a news conference for the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah, which starts on Friday. You have to pick what side do you think is going to be successful. And I firmly believe that I'm on the winning side of how things are going to evolve and shape in the coming years for professional golf.