Phil Mickelson Is Headed To Saudi Arabia.

That means the five-time major champ will play in the controversial European Tour event instead of the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, which is also scheduled for Jan.

“I am really looking forward to playing in Saudi Arabia in January,” Mickelson said in a statement that announced him joining other tournament commits, including defending champ Dustin Johnson.

Mickelson, who spent much of his childhood in Scottsdale, also played in the tournament as an amateur three times while he was a member of Arizona State’s golf team.

“Thirty years, gosh, I remember when I was in college, it doesn’t seem that long ago that I was playing in my first Phoenix Open,” Mickelson said ahead of this year’s event.