All a load of waffle for Mickelson

GET ready for the flop-shot breakfast (one fried egg atop a waffle) and the bunker blast breakfast (waffle with sausage gravy) – Phil Mickelson is trying to buy more than 100 Waffle House franchises in the Southeast of the United States.

The Tennessean newspaper first reported Mickelson’s interest in buying a Nashville-based franchisee out of bankruptcy last week: Mickelson’s group, GS Acquisitions LLC, has offered $20.2 million (€14m) in cash and payments over time for the 105-restaurant group that spans four states.

Mickelson and his two associates aren’t just potential Waffle House owners – they’re also fans:

GS Acquisitions became interested in buying the SouthEast Waffles franchise because all three men enjoy eating at Waffle House, though none of them has any restaurant experience, (GS executive Terry) Pefanis said. He said the men saw a good business opportunity based on the restaurant chain’s location in the Southeast region and recent profits.

Mickelson confirmed Wednesday that GS Acquisitions remains interested in the deal, but nothing is final yet.

“I hope it goes through,” Mickelson said yesterday. “I intended to be quiet with this, but I guess with the bankruptcy courts my name kind of stuck out.”