Saudi Golf League: Phil Mickelson apology backfires over doomed rebel competition
Golf great Phil Mickelson has issued an extraordinary apology over his controversial dalliance with the Saudi Golf League - and the reaction from sponsors has been swift.
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Phil Mickelson has been sensationally dumped by 14-year sponsor KPMG despite a humbling apology over his role in a proposed rebel tour.
Conceding his deep regret over his “offensive’’ behaviour and planning to take a break from golf, Mickelson also offered his many sponsors the chance to walk away from him as he explained his dalliance with the controversial Saudi Golf League.
KPMG, a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services, took up the invitation and announced soon after Mickelson’s apology there had been a “mutual agreement’’ to end their sponsorship “immediately.’’
No explanation was given for the parting as Mickelson lost his long time cap sponsor with rumours circulation that several other backers would follow.
Mickelson’s apology effectively ends the chance of the rebel league of taking off as he was seen as a key supporter, having helped to pay for lawyers to investigate the bona fides of the project which is being funded by Saudi backed LIV Golf of which Greg Norman is the public face.
Norman is yet to make a public comment since the conflict between the rebel outfit and the PGA exploded over the weekend.
Renowned for his cocky demeanour which has vanished with this statement, Mickelson had been under siege since comments were published from him calling the Saudi interests “scary mother------.’’
“We know they killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights.
“They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.’’
Mickelson did not deny making the comments, which were widely condemned as crass and heartless, but said they were made off “the record’’ and shared “out of context’’ by biographer Alan Shipnuck who later fired back at Mickelson.
“He knew I was working on a book about him and asked to speak (to me),’’ Shipnuck claimed.
“If the subject of a biography phones the author, the content of that conversation is always going to inform the book, unless it is expressly agreed otherwise.”
Mickelson’s apology was that of a shattered man.
“It was reckless, I offended people, and I am deeply sorry for my choice of words.
I’m beyond disappointed and will make every effort to self-reflect and learn from this.
“Golf desperately needs to change, and real change is always preceded by disruption.
“I have always known that criticism would come with exploring anything new.
“I still chose to put myself at the forefront of this to inspire change, taking the hits publicly to do the work behind the scenes.’’
“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 prioritise the ones I love most and work on being the man I want to be.”
READ MICKELSON’S FULL STATEMENT BELOW
“Although it doesn’t look this way now given my recent comments, my actions throughout this process have always been with the best interest of golf, my peers, sponsors and fans.
There is the problem of off record comments being shared out of context and without my consent, but the bigger issue is that I used words I sincerely regret 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’m beyond disappointed and will make every effort to self-reflect and learn from this.
Golf desperately needs to change, and real change is always preceded by disruption.
I have always known that criticism would come with exploring anything new.
I still chose to put myself at the forefront of this to inspire change, taking the hits publicly to do the work behind the scenes.
My experience with LIV Golf Investments has been very positive.
I apologise for anything I said that was taken out of context.
The specific people I have worked with are visionaries and have only been supportive.
More importantly they passionately love golf and share my drive to make the game better.
They have a clear plan to create an updated and positive experience for everyone including players, sponsors, networks and fans.
I have incredible partners, and these relationships mean so much more to me than a contract.
Many have been my most influential mentors and I consider all to be lifelong friends.
The last thing I would ever want to do is compromise them or their business in any way, and I have given all of them the option to pause or end the relationship as I understand it might be necessary given the current circumstances.
I believe in those people and companies and will always be here for them with or without a contract.
I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and many have been shared with the public.
My intent was never to hurt anyone and I’m so sorry to the people I have negatively impacted.
This has always been about supporting the players and the game and I appreciate all the people who have given me the benefit of the doubt.
Despite my belief that some changes have already been made within the overall discourse, I know I need to be accountable.
For the past 31 years I have lived a very public life and I have strived to live up to my own expectations, be the role model the fans deserve, and be someone that inspires others.
I’ve worked to compete at the highest level, be available to media, represent my sponsors with integrity, engage with volunteers and sign every autograph for my incredible fans.
I have experienced many successful and rewarding moments that I will always cherish, but I have often failed myself and others too.
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 prioritise the ones I love most and work on being the man I want to be.’’
NORMAN UNDER FIRE AS GOLF’S DESERT STORM FIZZLES
As far as sledges from one British Open golf champion to another go they may well be most pointed words ever written.
“Looks like the Saudi tour and Greg Norman are slowly going away. Good riddance.’’
The author of the tweet was 2001 British Open champion turned commentator David Duval and the topic was golf’s Great Desert War where oil-rich Saudi Arabian interests are trying to wrest control of the professional game away from the time honoured PGA tour.
This story has been rumbling along for almost a year with subtle detours, power shifts, and endless speculation over who may or might not the proposed rebel tour of which Norman is the Pied Piper and the only known signing.
But on Sunday afternoon something changed as a group of big golfing voices, most of them playing at The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club Los Angeles, decided enough was enough and it’s time to defend their patch.
The rebel project was not quite destroyed but the oxygen mask is on and the heartbeat barely recording a blip as massive recruiting targets Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson, previously in the “hmm ... sounds interesting’’ camp, finally decided the grass is greenest on the very patch of earth on which they stand.
They join the likes of Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy and most of the game’s biggest names in rejecting rebel approaches.
The “Man Bites Shark’’ narrative is growing by the day as Norman (nicknamed the Great White Shark) is the exposed frontman for LIV golf, the Saudi based company attempting to throw sums as high as $100 million (allegedly the offer to Phil Mickelson) to join the rebel band.
The issue exploded to such an extent that Norman’s name was trending on Twitter on Monday with taunts coming from voices great and small.
There was the serious-angry type from Duval. There was also the acid tipped taunts from the one Golf Digest writer who offered “I for one am surprised something spearheaded by Greg Norman is falling apart on a Sunday’’, a reference to Norman’s last day major blues in a career which he pocketed two majors but was runner-up eight times.
The genteel sport of golf is not normally like this but the prospect of a Saudi backed tour has stirred primal emotions.
Norman must surely be wondering whether, at age 67, he needs the stress of it all for the entire project looks like collapsing on the tarmac or being a ghostly shadow of what it was meant to be.
The turning point came last week when Mickelson admitted he had hired lawyers to help the Saudis and had told journalist Alan Shipnuck ““The Saudis are scary motherf---ers to get involved with. We know they killed (Washington Post reporter Jamal) Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights.
Looks like the Saudi tour and Greg Norman are slowly going away. Good riddance.
— David Duval (@david59duval) February 20, 2022
“They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.’’
Not only did Mickelson seriously stain his own reputation by nonchalantly rationalising how a shameless abduction and murder of a journalist could be ignored in the quest to spruce up the tour, he destroyed the credibility of the men who would hire him.
Mickelson has made no comment on the quotes attributed to him since they were published and his silence has been interpreted as confirmation not simply he said them but, more importantly, that he is not as ashamed by them as say, McIlroy.
“I don‘t want to kick someone while he’s down, obviously, but I thought they were naive, selfish, egotistical, ignorant,“ said McIlroy, laying in the slipper he promised not to unleash.
It was reported in the United States last week that up to 20 players may have signed with the rebel outfit but no names were mentioned.
Queensland’s Adam Scott said he was “sworn to secrecy’’ over his dealings with the group and Lee Westwood said he could not comment due to a nondisclosure agreement so obviously there has been some deep discussions.
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