Farmers Insurance Open goes live with Tiger Woods as he tees off at 1:30 PM ET from Torrey Pines in San Diego.
The Farmers Insurance Open gets underway in Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, but all the news leading up to the tournament was about Phil Mickelson and his taxes. Prior to the start of the tournament, the worldwide golf star made some waves by saying that he might have to retire or move out of San Diego to deal with increasing taxes both federally and in the state.
"There are going to be some drastic changes for me because I happen to be in that zone that has been targeted both federally and by the state and it doesn't work for me right now," Mickelson said.
He also mentioned how the taxes stopped him from joining a group that purchased the San Diego Padres last year for $800 million.
Mickelson said: "I've never had a problem paying my fair share. I don't know what that is right now, but I've never had a problem paying my fair share."
Before the Farmers got underway, Mickelson took time to apologize and said that he regretted making those statements publicly.
"My apology is for talking about it publicly, because I shouldn't take advantage of the forum that I have as a professional golfer to try to ignite change over these issues."
Mickelson tees off at 12:30 p.m. ET on the North course's 10th tee with Brandt Snedeker and Bubba Watson, while Nick Watney, Rickie Fowler and Woods will start at 1:30 p.m. ET at the first tee on the South course. Last year Brandt Snedeker won the championship at the course.
According to the Golf Channel, "The winner of the tournament will take home just a shade over $1 million of the over $6 million total purse." Coverage of the tournament will be on the Golf Channel both Thursday and Friday and alter CBS will pick up the coverage at 3 p.m. ET over the weekend.
In the past, players like Tiger Woods and others have moved to Florida to avoid paying such taxes. Mickelson and his family live in the San Diego area and he has said he would like to stay if he can.
"I'm not sure what we're going to do yet," Mickelson said.
Tiger Woods, commenting on Mickelson's complaints, was quoted by Bloomberg News saying, "I moved out of here [California] in '96 for that same reason. I understand what he was, I think, trying to say."
Mickelson is one of the most decorated golfers on the tour and has won 40 career PGA events while earning $67,677,098 on the golf course. The 42-year-old has won four majors and also pulled in over $43 million in endorsements in 2012, ranking seventh on the Forbes magazine list of highest-paid athletes, slated behind boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, Tiger Woods, basketball players LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and tennis' Roger Federer.
HERE is a link to the SiriusXM Radio Coverage. The Golf Channel also has coverage of the tournament online HERE. The PGA Tour also offers a live stream which can be found HERE.