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‘It was reckless’ – Mickelson posts apology for ‘off record’ Saudi remarks; KPMG and Phil split
On Tuesday, Phil Mickelson made a lengthy apology for comments that he made regarding the Saudi Golf League that had recently gone viral.
The comments were made to journalist Alan Shipnuck, who shared them last week ahead of the release of his unauthorised biography of Mickelson, with Lefty allegedly saying he used the Saudi project as leverage against the PGA Tour.
In a statement released today, Mickelson wrote:
A Statement from Phil Mickelson pic.twitter.com/2saaXIxhpu
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) February 22, 2022
“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 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 apologize 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 positive experience for everyone including players, sponsors, networks and fans.
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 puase or end relationships as I understand it might be necesarry given the current circumstances.
I believe in these people and companies in these 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 rewarding moments 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 prioritize the ones I love most and work on being the man I want to be.”
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.”
Amy Rogers of Golf Channel broke the news on Tuesday evening that sponsor KPMG and Mickelson had mutually agreed to part ways tweeting:
Received the statement below from @KPMG_US confirming that they have ended their longtime partnership with Phil Mickelson. pic.twitter.com/ASytnF1Atb
— Amy Rogers (@TheAmyRogers) February 22, 2022
In response to Mickelson’s apology, Shipnuck has refuted Lefty’s claims that the comments were made off the record:
The 'off the record' piece of this is completely false and I'll have more to say on that shortly. https://t.co/7cogbJlneK
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) February 22, 2022
I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear
OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.
LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break
Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.
Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.
On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.
On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.
On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.
PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home
Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.
On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.
Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?
Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.
Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?
PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates
Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.
Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.
Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.
Card III and Bacha both miss their birdie tries on the first playoff hole.
We’ll play 18 again @OspreyOpen. pic.twitter.com/vNpHTdkHDg
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 3, 2025
GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.
Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.
Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.
General Albums
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Scotty Kennon – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Austin Duncan – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Will Chandler – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kevin Roy – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ben Griffin – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Camilo Villegas – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matti Schmid – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
Pullout Albums
- Denny McCarthy’s custom Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Swag Golf putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Karl Vilips TM MG5 wedges – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- New Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matt Fitzpatrick’s custom Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX
7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Pingback: ‘I think he hurt the game of golf’ – Greg Norman on Mickelson’s Saudi comments – GolfWRX
Henry R Fitzgerald
Feb 28, 2022 at 7:42 pm
Shipnuck? Another media hack.
Henry R Fitzgerald
Feb 28, 2022 at 7:40 pm
Phil exposed the PGA Tour Mafia and now the Boss Monahan and his little millionaire Capos are piling on Phil.
The PGA Tour is going to need good lawyers because they are going to get hammer with antitrust lawsuits.
Why is the PGA Tour afraid of? Nobody is going to take their right of saving tee times honoring convicted wife beaters or crackhead, like George Floyd.
geohogan
Feb 26, 2022 at 11:28 pm
Now that Phil is loosing all his sponsors, his USA income: KPMG, Barclays, Callaway?, Exxon? Amgen? …..
Is move to Saudi a forgone conclusion.
geohogan
Feb 25, 2022 at 12:56 pm
“(The PGA Tour’s) brought millions and millions of dollars to communities, it’s brought great competition, great television,” Nicklaus said. “Why would I not support that? Instead, I’m going to go support for my own benefit, see 40 guys break away from the PGA Tour at the whim of an advertising agency in Saudi Arabia?
so says the G.O.A.T.
Speedy
Feb 24, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Phil, Greg, Tiger off into the sunset.
Jack Nash
Feb 24, 2022 at 8:48 am
Looking in the wrong direction with Phil here. It’s all about revenge for Norman and rightly so. When he was at the top of the heap he suggested to the top brass about Tourneys for the top golfers with big cash payouts. The PGA said get lost and life moved on. Then shortly after Tiger arrived the WGC events started(1999) with the “Top Golfers” and Big Cash” prizes. Seemed that’s what Norman suggested years prior, so Any chance he gets to take a jab at the PGA he will. The new League would feature big cash payouts and even “Team” events which the viewers seem to be clamoring for. The League won’t likely get off the ground but guess what? The PGA has initiated bigger cash payouts, and go figure some “Team” events scheduled this fall. Who woulda thunk it that the PGA was that forward thinking. All they needed to be was pressured. So maybe Phil wasn’t that wrong? As for demonizing the country the league is started from, maybe some of the pros And PGA should see what’s happening with NBA pros and their, lets say equipment brands, and where they’re made? You see a lot of swoosh’s out there.
Pingback: Things somehow just got worse (and a bit more embarrassing) for Phil Mickelson – GolfWRX
Professor
Feb 24, 2022 at 1:41 am
So, apparently, Phil called Shipnuck last fall (2021) and just started talking about LIV and the Saudi League. It all comes out and Phil tries to say it was off the record?’ C’mon man! And then, Phil calls Shipnuck last week and tries to backtrack saying it was off the record. But at the end of the day this is Phil being Phil. We all saw this coming when he threw Tom Watson under the bus after the Ryder Cup loss. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong but Tom Watson didn’t hit a shot in that Ryder Cup did he? This was just arrogance gone unchecked. But on a serious note, is Phil going to be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life? He was right about the Saudis being scary @$&*%^s. They do kill people.
Michael
Feb 23, 2022 at 8:33 pm
Gambling Phil has relapsed. Kept doubling down with his mouth and ego and lost.
The final chapter of your career pretty much rewrites the others with people who thought they knew you.
Speedy
Feb 23, 2022 at 5:33 pm
SGL, Norman, Mickelson, Trump golf courses seem a bad mix.
Regarding occasional world tour or super golf league chatter over the years, Norman seems ready to fail again.
geohogan
Feb 25, 2022 at 12:52 pm
MBS, Trump, Mickelson, Norman…..Narcissists are US
Mike Culp
Feb 23, 2022 at 4:11 pm
It seems to me there are several people on here that have never said or done something that they wish they hadn’t.
geohogan
Feb 25, 2022 at 1:00 pm
No worries…MC. Its “off the record”.. boot licker
geohogan
Feb 23, 2022 at 9:44 am
Phil didnt intend to reveal, one more time, how self serving
an A hole he is and has always been.
Ted
Feb 23, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Kiss up to evil for paper you don’t need. Check
Get criticized in twitter for kissing up and insatiable greed. Check
Get triggered. Check
Go on twitter ban binge. Check
Still get criticized for kissing up and censoring. Check
Fake damage control deflecting blame. Check
Ruining your product and reputation. Check
Just don’t come back Phil. Done.
Tony Rocket
Feb 23, 2022 at 9:20 am
Golf Channel are doing their bidding for the PGA tour. Talk about throwing someone under the bus. It is quite clear the tour is afraid of competition, much like every crony corporation these days. It’s quite rich that the tour and OEMS care so much about human rights while being in bed with China. What a joke?
Tom
Feb 23, 2022 at 11:23 am
Yes. Such a joke that some think they must choose one evil or the other evil.
Professor
Feb 24, 2022 at 1:55 am
Are you saying Golf Channel is throwing Phil under the bus because they’re reporting this story? I’m sorry friend but Phil has done a pretty good job of that all on his own. Again…
Henry R Fitzgerald
Feb 23, 2022 at 12:21 am
Wow, I see the GWRX wokesters are deleting posts, lol….
joe
Feb 23, 2022 at 1:07 pm
dumb posts should be deleted. time to marginalize the cray cray. you’ve had your few years of blurting out insanity
Henry R Fitzgerald
Feb 22, 2022 at 9:32 pm
What a goof! I have no respect for Mickelson.
A man who can’t stand by his convictions for a dollar is not a man worth listening to.
I could care less what happens to this coward.
Gerald R Henry
Feb 23, 2022 at 1:19 am
You won’t do %$#@
toyzrx
Feb 22, 2022 at 6:51 pm
Gotta love Phil though for always being authentic and wild, coming back across from 2 fairways over trying to make a great save.
Paul Runyan
Feb 22, 2022 at 6:42 pm
I think there are slightly more import things to be concerned about other than a narcissist golfer…
geohogan
Feb 27, 2022 at 8:58 am
@PR; like concern about narcissist leader(s)
“So Putin is now saying, ‘It’s independent,’ a large section of Ukraine,” Trump continued. “I said, ‘How smart is that?’ And he’s going to go in and be a peacekeeper. That’s the strongest peace force. We could use that on our southern border. That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen.”
He then called Putin a “very savvy” person whom he claimed to know “very, very well.”
Tom
Feb 22, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Too late Phil. You should have done the math first. It takes 10 years to build trust and 10 seconds to destroy it.
Good bye.