On Saturday, Phil Mickelson and his foundation The Mickelson Foundation have been removed from The American Express tour event in La Quinta, California as hosts, according to a report by the Desert Sun, in Palm Springs, California. They have hosted the PGA Tour since 2019. This is the latest of the corporate sponsorship losses after the professional golfer recently passed comments on the PGA Tour as well as the new rival golf league being reportedly backed by the Saudi government and British golfer Greg Norman’s LIV Golf Investments.
Earlier, Mickelson was quoted saying the following to golf writer Alan Shipnuck about the Saudi group behind the new league. Mickelson said that they were “scary mother f*****s to get involved with.” He added, “We know they killed (Washington Post columnist Jamal) Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights, They execute people for being gay.” He also told Shipnuck, “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.”
On Tuesday, Mickelson acknowledged that his statements were “reckless” but also said that they were not meant to be shared. He apologized to Greg Norman of LIV Golf Investments for any of his remarks that were taken out of context and said that they were visionaries, who wanted to make golf better, just like he did.
He did not mention anything about his comments on the PGA Tour or Commissioner Jay Monahan. However, he said that he “desperately needs” time away so that he could get his priorities in order.
Other sponsors who have dropped Mickelson or will drop him in March, after his sponsorship deals lapse include the following:
Callaway Golf
Workday
KPMG
Amstel Light.
We had reported earlier in February that the top golfers in the nation had officially released statements that they intended to remain with the PGA, despite being offered huge sums of money to join, from the new league called the Super Golf League. It was proposed by Greg Norman’s LIV Investments, which is reportedly backed by the Saudi government.
The Washington Post had also reported that the investment firm was in talks with the Trump Organization to use its golf courses in Florida and New Jersey. However, neither the Trump Organization nor LIV Investments were willing to confirm the news, since.
(Photo: Isogood_patrick )
