Phil Mickelson was at the center of golf’s biggest story over the weekend, and one that’s starting to seep into mainstream sports consciousness as well.
He’s one of the few non-Tiger golfers who can do so, and he’s used to his big wins over the years, bolstering his podium with things like the well-received ManningCast appearance. This time, though, it was about a less flattering story: Mickelson revealed in quotes by golf writer (and forthcoming book on Mickelson) Alan Shipnock that he not only paid to draft the founding documents for a Saudi government-backed round of golf, but he did so knowing all too well. The kind of people he was dealing with.
Furthermore, he then made sure to note that he wasn’t sure he wanted the project to succeed; Instead, it was mostly a tool Mickelson was trying to use to force the PGA Tour to make various changes that would pay more money to the big-name players at the top of the sport.
Here’s the money view, via Shipnuck at Firepit Collective:
“They’re a terrifying abuse to get involved with,” he said. We know they were killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi has an appalling human rights record. They execute people there for being gay. Knowing all this, why am I even thinking about it? Because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour works.”
Over the weekend, a parade of Phil’s PGA Tour teammates turned up against the idea, including players like Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson who were previously considered highly likely to join. With one ill-advised decision to open his mouth, Mickelson has not only sabotaged whatever influence he might have, but has outdone himself as at best operating both sides of the fence in bad faith (with one side of the fence being the government of Saudi Arabia.)
Mickelson was uncharacteristically quiet today, when he released a lengthy statement of apology accusing Shipnuck of not only publishing unofficial quotes, but of doing so out of context. Here is Mickelson’s statement:
Mickelson appears to have been deeply moved by this whole affair, including suggesting that he needs to take some time away from competitive golf. (There’s a chance, of course, that the PGA Tour encouraged him to do so too, either formally or informally. The Tour doesn’t announce disciplinary action, so we may never know officially.) But it’s not exactly a regret; Pointing the finger at Shipnuck feels particularly rich here. The point of context is complete nonsense. Shipnuck posted entire paragraphs of Mickelson’s thoughts on the subject, and it’s been so popular in golf for years now that Phil has been so involved in doing exactly what he said he’s doing here.
As for it being unpublishable, that would certainly be an entirely different discussion, except for what it was on the record under any reasonable standard.
Shipnuck noted this in the initial piece as well, likely anticipating the firestorm that would create for Mickelson and possibly anticipating Phil’s possible defense as well:
Mickelson has a compulsive need to be seen as the smartest man in the room. He didn’t once say that our conversation was unpublishable, in the background, just between us, or anything off the beaten path. He simply opened the vein.
There is no such thing as a default unsave mode.
Even with his tail between his legs, Mickelson can’t help but blame someone else. It’s been a tough turn for Phil, coming off his highs in winning the PGA Championship in May so far, and there’s a chance we can learn more negative things in the near future.
What an amazing transformation for someone who is legitimately a living legend of his sport.
