Rarely does the group of the most important people run far from Phil Mickelson. The funny 51-year-old has always been a magnet that attracts a lot of the rich and powerful who sponsor the game, as well as ordinary and ordinary people who flock to see it. However, after his comments about the Saudi government and the Super Golf League surfaced last week, he finds himself perhaps the loneliest man in the entire sport.
First, KPMG announced they cut ties with Lefty. Working day, Amstel and even Callaway followed in their footsteps. Statements of these companies similar. This one from Heineken, Amstel’s parent company, is emblematic of them all:
“We have decided to go our separate ways and end Amstel Light’s partnership with Phil Mickelson,” a spokesperson said. “We wish him the best.”
Callaway, of course, is one of the most notable (though almost certainly not the most lucrative). And while it has suspended funding for Mickelson, it leaves room for a reunion at some point in the future.
“Callaway does not accept Phil Mickelson’s comments and we are disappointed with his choice of words – they do not reflect our values or what we represent as a company.” written statement. “Phil has apologized and we know he regrets the way he has handled recent events. We recognize his desire to leave the game and respect that decision. At this point. , we have agreed to pause the partnership and will reassess the ongoing relationship at a later date.”
On Friday, a story emerged that Mickelson was also not the host of the American Express, the PGA Tour’s annual stop in Palm Springs. Are from Palm Springs Desert Sun:
The PGA Tour confirmed to The Desert Sun on Saturday that Mickelson, who has been the tournament host since 2020, will not return to that role in 2023. Additionally, the Mickelson Foundation, which was established in 2019 special to become the charity branch of the league, will no longer be part of the event, the tour has been confirmed. The organization’s contract with the league runs until 2024.
Mickelson issued a lengthy apology for his comments about the Saudis as well as the Super Golf League; he’s called a Saudi “scary moms *******” and acknowledge their murderous tendencies in an excerpt from Alan Shipnuck’s forthcoming biography of Mickelson. In his apology, Mickelson called his comments “reckless” and said he believed they had fallen short of the record, but that he was looking forward to improving the game of golf in general and made no statement. or apologies to the PGA Tour. He also noted that he will be away from golf for a while.
It wasn’t enough to quell the damage done and celebrities wanting to pull out of their relationship with Mickelson. As Shipnuck pointed out on Twitter, it’s perhaps a bit surprising that so many companies (including Callaway) run away so quickly. Sure, Mickelson’s comments were one-sided, but his primary crime was trying to influence PGA Tour policies by taking advantage of a hostile government against them. That’s no big deal, but he’s not guilty either.
However, the PGA Tour is powerful, and Mickelson – as this story proves – is no bigger than the entity he has made a name for. Perhaps there are business relationships that need to be protected as it involves Travel which is more important and lasting than the relationship with a 51-year-old man who has had a good week for the past two years.
Despite that, it was strange to see Mickelson like this, alone and wobbly. Usually when this happens on the pitch we get something heroic, if not the result then at least the effort. Surely that also emerges from this, and it will probably be more interesting than ever.
