[Zuben Elgenubi]

Phil Mickelson talks with his coach Butch Harmon during the pro-am before the Abu Dhabi Championship. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

The American's decision to play in the first big European Tour event of the year shows how appearance fees are changing golf's landscape.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

There are only 34 Rules Of Golf.

Email me if you want on the Golf Ping List

Visit PGA.com, an excellent site.

[Revolting cat!]

Do they even have decent sand dunes over there for a regulation golf course?

[marshmallow]

I wonder about appearance money. If one has already pocketed $1 million just for showing up, does one have quite the same determination and motivation to do well in the tournament? I'm sure Tiger does but what about the others?

If I was given $1 million just for teeing it up, I'd miss the cut by 20 strokes and then spend the weekend in a bar with John Daly.

[RayChuang88]

I've seen pictures of some of those new golf courses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and they are spectacular--especially when no expense is spared to create them (remember, in the Middle East we don't have NIMBYism to limit what a golf course will look like).