Phil Mickelson apologizes for recent comments, says he needs 'some time away'

Earlier DU thread: Phil Mickelson's willingness to entertain a Saudi-sponsored golf tour is shameless.

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Source: Washington Post

Phil Mickelson apologizes for recent comments, says he needs ‘some time away’

By Des Bieler
February 22, 2022 at 7:07 p.m. EST

In a lengthy note shared on social media Tuesday, Phil Mickelson apologized for his “choice of words” in recently published comments and suggested he might take a break from competitive golf.

“I know I have not been my best,” Mickelson wrote, “and desperately need some time away to prioritize the ones I love most and work on being the man I want to be.”

The 51-year-old superstar has been at the center of a storm since Thursday, when comments he gave to veteran golf journalist Alan Shipnuck last fall were made public. In those remarks, Mickelson said he was willing to engage with a Saudi-backed attempt at launching a golf league that would rival the PGA Tour.

Mickelson did express misgivings about who called the “scary motherf------” representing a regime with a “horrible record on human rights.” But his comments also included describing the venture as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates,” which immediately drew condemnation from fellow players and in other sectors. His bluntness about the Saudis and his arguably cynical reasons for aiding their venture seemed to quickly backfire, with other top players linked to the nascent league pledging loyalty to the PGA Tour.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/02/22/phil-mickelson-apology-saudi-golf-league/

Non-paywalled link: https://wapo.st/3t0fdof