Greg Norman: Phil Mickelson the main reason top golfers say no to breakaway league

Greg Norman still isn't giving up on his breakaway pro golf league -- and he's pointing fingers when it comes to why so many of the world's best pros are against it.

The proposed Saudi Arabia-backed league has been a point of contention in the golf world for months, and Norman now says it was Phil Mickelson's comments about the league that have hindered its ability to really get off the ground.

"There's no question [Mickelson's comments] hurt," Norman, now CEO of LIV Golf Investments, told ESPN. "It hurt a lot of aspects. It hurt the PGA Tour. It hurt us. It hurt the game of golf. It hurt Phil. So yeah, across all fronts. It wasn't just specifically to us. But it definitely created negative momentum against us."

Norman told ESPN that "at least 30% of the top 50 players in the world" were committed to playing in the new league before Mickelson's comments from an earlier interview went viral in February, causing plans for the 14-event league to come to a screeching halt.

"Quite honestly, we were ready to launch on the Tuesday or Wednesday of [the Genesis Invitational]," Norman said. "We had enough players in our strength of field, or minimal viable product, ready to come on board. And when all of that happened, everybody got the jitters, and the PGA Tour threatened people with lifetime bans and stuff like that."

In an interview with author Alan Shipnuck, Mickelson addressed the proposed league being funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and that he would play in the league despite the country's horrible record of human rights violations.

 "They execute people over there for being gay," Mickelson said in the interview. "Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates."

Top pros including Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have spoken out against the proposed league in light of Mickelson's comments.

Mickelson has not participated in a PGA Tour event since January, prior to his comments being made public.