Phil Mickelson apologized after calling LIV Golf’s Saudi backers “scary,” saying his comments were reckless and didn’t reflect his true intentions

Phil Mickelson joined LIV Golf in June 2022, reportedly part of a $200 million deal(Image: Getty)

Phil Mickelson, the six‑time major champion, sparked widespread controversy in early 2022 after comments surfaced in which he described Saudi backers of LIV Golf as “scary motherf—ers to get involved with.” Elsewhere, Scottie Scheffler’s ‘𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ish’ financial agreement with his caddie has turned heads.

The remarks, aired in excerpts from his biography by Alan Shipnuck, who recently said Scottie Scheffler is playing at a level that “only two or three golfers have ever reached,” reignited debates over Mickelson’s decision to join the Saudi-backed rival to the PGA Tour.

In response, Mickelson, who made an awkward U-turn after a Scheffler prediction was thoroughly proved wrong, issued a public statement on social media apologising for his choice of words, saying: “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.”

“There is the problem of off-the-record comments being shared out of context and without my consent, but the bigger issue is that I used words that do not reflect my true feelings or intentions.”

Mickelson went on to defend his involvement with LIV Golf, arguing, “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 work behind the scenes.

“My experience with LIV Golf Investments has been very positive,” Mickelson wrote. “I apologize for anything I said that was taken out context. The specific people I have worked with are visionaries and have only been supportive. More importantly they love golf and share my drive to make the game better.”

Yet not everyone accepted his framing. Shipnuck refuted Mickelson’s suggestion that the discussion had been off‑the‑record, stating in a column: “Not once in our texts or when we got on the phone did Mickelson request to go off-the-record and I never consented to it; if he had asked, I would have pushed back hard, as this was obviously material I wanted for the book.

“Mickelson simply called me up and opened a vein. To claim now that the comments were off-the-record is false and duplicitous.”

A Statement from Phil Mickelson pic.twitter.com/2saaXIxhpu

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) February 22, 2022

Shipnuck’s insistence reinforced the narrative that Mickelson’s comments were delivered on‑the‑record and intended for publication in the biography.

The fallout was swift. Key sponsors, notably KPMG, publicly ended ties with Mickelson in the wake of the controversy, with KPMG stating their partnership was being mutually terminated.

Mickelson also announced that he would take a break from professional golf, writing, “The past 10 years I have felt the pressure and stress slowly affecting me at a deeper level,” he wrote. “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.”

The controversy occurred ahead of LIV Golf’s inaugural UK event — held in June 2022 at the Centurion Club near London — the first time the Saudi-backed league debuted in the United Kingdom. That event marked a pivotal moment in professional golf’s expansion into the UK and symbolised the growing tension between LIV and the PGA Tour.