Mickelson wants to buy Padres

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Golfer Phil Mickelson confirmed Monday he has joined a group of investors seeking to buy the San Diego Padres, his hometown baseball team.

Mickelson told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he had turned down previous opportunities to become involved in sports ownership, but found the Padres an appealing proposition.

On Monday in Ohio, where he was preparing for this week’s US PGA Memorial tournament, the four-time Major champion confirmed he was involved with a group including Kevin and Brian O’Malley, and their cousins Peter and Tom Seidler, as one of several groups trying to buy the team.

The O’Malleys and Seidlers are grandchildren of former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley.