Phil Mickelson apologizes for Super Golf League comments, will focus on ‘golf’s best interests’

Phil Mickelson He tweeted an apology on Tuesday saying he was sorry for recent comments he made about the PGA Tour and the Saudi-funded breakaway league organizers.

“While it doesn’t seem like that now given my recent comments, my actions during this process have always been with the interests of golf, my peers, sponsors and fans,” Mickelson Books. “There is the issue of sharing informal comments out of context and without my consent, but the biggest issue is that I have used words that do not reflect my true feelings or intentions.

“It was reckless, I offended people, and I am deeply sorry for my choice of words. I am very disappointed and will do my best to self-reflection and learn from this.”

Mickelson, 51, caused an uproar last week when author Alan Shipnock released an excerpt from his upcoming unauthorized autobiography of the six-time lead. In the excerpt posted to the Fire Pit Collective, Mickelson called the Saudis “intimidating” but said he was looking beyond their controversial history of human rights abuses to gain influence with the PGA Tour.

Mickelson indicated that he will be taking some time away from the tour. He’s skipped over the past four events.

“Over the past 10 years, I’ve felt stress and tension affect me slowly and on a deeper level,” he wrote. “I know I haven’t been my best and I desperately need some time away to prioritize the ones I love the most and work towards being the man I want to be.”

On the Fire Pit group podcast, Shipnuck said Mickelson reached out to him to discuss the PGA Tour and other issues in November. Shipnock said Mickelson never said their discussion was unpublishable or for background purposes only, and he knew it would be used in his book.

The Super Golf League is funded and faced by the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Greg Norman. She was trying to steal many of the PGA Tour’s best players, but many vowed their intent to stick to the Tour.

“My experience with LIV Golf Investments has been very positive,” Michelson wrote. “I apologize for anything I said was taken out of context. The specific people I’ve worked with are visionaries and just supportive. Most importantly they love golf and share my journey to make the game better.”

Mickelson was at the helm of a proposed defector league, which he intended to start playing this summer, including 10 leagues in the United States.

“Golf is in dire need of change, and real change is always preceded by turmoil,” Michelson wrote. “I’ve always known that criticism will come with exploring anything new. I continue to choose to put myself at the forefront of this to inspire change, and take public blows to do work behind the scenes.”

Mickelson, who became the oldest major champion in history when he won the 2021 PGA Championship at the age of 50, has been heavily criticized by PGA Tour players, including Rory McIlroy And the Justin Thomas.

“I don’t want to kick someone while it’s obvious, but I thought [Mickelson’s comments] “They were naive, selfish, arrogant and ignorant,” McIlroy said. It was so amazing and disappointing. sad. I’m sure he’s kind of sitting at home rethinking his situation and where he’s going from here.”

Mickelson said he gave his sponsors, including Callaway and Amstel Light, the opportunity to discontinue their relations with him. KPMG became the first to announce the termination of its partnership with Mickelson, a decision the company said was reciprocal. “We wish him the best,” KPMG said in an email to The Associated Press.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life and many of them have been shared with the public,” Michelson wrote. “My goal was not to hurt anyone, and I’m sorry for the people I’ve affected negatively. This has always been about supporting players and I appreciate all the people who gave me the benefit of the doubt.”

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.