Golfer and San Diego native/resident Phil Mickelson has joined Peter O’Malley’s group in their pursuit of the San Diego Padres ownership.
Mickelson, second only to Tiger Woods in career earnings since 2004, earned about $61 million last year between tournament wins, appearances and sponsorships, per Sports Illustrated. So he brings some serious backing to the O’Malley bid.
Though three groups were approved to negotiate a sale of the Padres — the O’Malley group, Steve Cohen and a group led by Thomas Tull — it appears as though the O’Malley and Tull groups have been the most aggressive, already reviewing the books and interviewing executives. It also looks like Tony Gwynn — Mr. Padre — will end up being a part of whatever group buys the Pods: even though he’s affiliated now with the Tull group, Mickelson said that if his group lands the Padres, he and the O’Malleys would want to see Gwynn as part of the Padres front office.
A sale could come as soon as August.
RELATED STORIES: Three groups approved to negotiate purchase of Padres; O’Malleys may make run at Padres; Moores puts San Diego Padres back on the market
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