No Philly Mick on European Tour in 2009

It's official - Phil Mickelson is not going to dip his toes into the Pond to get on the European Tour next season.   Instead of playing on the Euro Tour in the inaugural season of the Race to Dubai, Mickelson is sitting on the sidelines.

"I'm not ready to commit to it," Mickelson said Tuesday in Shanghai, suggesting the 2009 European season might be too early. "It might be something I do next year. I wouldn't rule it out."

"When I commit to the European (Tour), I expect to play -- not just the minimum -- but to really be a part of the Tour. I'm just not ready now to commit to that. I'm not going to rule it out for the future. I think that's where the game is growing and is heading. The European Tour has made great strides."

The AP piece alludes to something very curious about this whole transformation of Mickelson's from solely US-based to international maverick that is blazing a global trail.

Once criticized for seldom playing outside the United States, Mickelson's victory last year in Shanghai came in his first foray into Asia. It was also only his second victory outside the USA.

He's now a major booster of the international game and wants golf in the Olympics.

"I think the biggest growth opportunity for the game of golf is internationally," he said. "If golf can become an Olympic sport in 2016 ... that will lead to an influx of capital and an increase of opportunities for kids to get into the game."

Mickelson also has four of his sponsors in mind -- the bank Barclays, Callaway Golf, the accounting company KPMG and Exxon Mobile.

"Those four companies have a global footprint," he said "Their biggest areas of growth are not in the United States. They're international. ... I want to take advantage of the global opportunities that are out there for golf. It seems as though wealth is being created on an international basis.

"I'd like to help with the growth as well as partake in its success."

Given the global nature of the companies that he has amassed as sponsors and their gloabl commitment to golf, it would seem natural for Mickelson to become a little more worldly.  It also probably doesn't hurt to get $1 million or so for showing up to an event, and then almost a million more after winning it.