The Phil Mickelson fallout continued last week as the six-time major champion’s life and career faced powerful blowback from the controversial comments he made regarding the PGA Tour and the proposed new Saudi-backed golf league.
Even as Mickelson tried to take ownership of his self-inflicted problems, sponsors dropped away on an almost daily basis, further tarnishing Mickelson’s once sparkling image.
What began as a controversy around Mickelson’s remarks quickly escalated. Even Mickelson’s apology, issued last Tuesday, was roundly criticized for pointing the finger at others while continuing to stoke his argument to change the PGA Tour.
In rapid succession, major sponsors KPMG, Workday and Amstel Light announced they are ending their relationship with Mickelson.
Callaway Golf, which has used Mickelson prominently in its marketing, announced it has “paused” its agreement with the golfer.
“Callaway does not condone Phil Mickelson’s comments and we were very disappointed in his choice of words – they in no way reflect our values or what we stand for as a company," a statement said. “Phil has apologized and we know he regrets how he handled recent events. We recognize his desire to take time away from the game and respect that decision. At this time we have agreed to pause our partnership and will re-evaluate our ongoing relationship at a later date.”
“I have experienced many successful and rewarding moments that I will always cherish, but I have often failed myself and others too.”
Phil Mickelson
On Saturday, news broke in The Desert Sun newspaper that the American Express tournament in Southern California had ended its relationship with Mickelson, who served as tournament host since 2020. Additionally, the Mickelson Foundation no longer will be the event’s primary charity recipient.
In his apology, Mickelson said he will take time away, raising the question of when he might play tournament golf again.
The assumption is Mickelson will be away for an extended period of time. The PGA Tour does not publicly announce suspensions and it’s possible Mickelson could step away for a time to avoid a suspension.
It seems unlikely that Mickelson will tee it up in the Players Championship beginning March 10. It’s also unclear if he will be in Augusta for the Masters in early April, a place where he has won three of his six major championships.
Considered the front-runner to captain the United States Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black in 2025, Mickelson’s role going forward is uncertain.
“I have experienced many successful and rewarding moments that I will always cherish, but I have often failed myself and others too,” Mickelson said in his statement.
“The past 10 years I have felt the pressure and stress slowly affecting me at a deeper level. I know I have not been my best and desperately need some time away to prioritize the ones I love most and work on being the man I want to be.”
Ron Green Jr.