The tombstone up above says it all.
Phil Mickelson has basically committed professional and financial suicide.
First he shot himself in both feet, then put the proverbial Saudi League gun to his head.
In a futile attempt to revive him, a carefully crafted “statement” was put together by one of those PR firms that handle crisis situations and this Phil Mickelson And The Great Saudi Fiasco would surely fall into that category.
It came out on Tuesday and has been dismantled in full detail by a variety of observers, including Brandel Chamblee from The Golf Channel, who saw right through Phil’s phony-baloney “statement.”
The first entity that Lefty owes a huge apology to is the PGA Tour itself. After all, he basically conspired to help form a rival league with the intent of trying to pull the best players away from the Tour. There’s no apology in the lame “statement” to Jay Monahan and the PGA Tour.
The “statement” also tries to bad-mouth Alan Shipnuck, inferring that what Phil told him regarding those nasty Saudis was supposed to be “off the record” and went so far to say the quotes were taken out of context.
Pure bullshit.
Then Phil’s “statement” tries to tell us that all of this Mickelson malfeasance was for the “good of golf.”
More bullshit.
And then there’s the convenient “I’m taking time off” from the game.
That’s Da Vinci code for: Phil Mickelson has basically been suspended by the PGA Tour.
Then there’s the “apology” to the Saudis:
“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 and positive experience for everyone including players, sponsors, networks, and fans.”
What? The human-rights trouncing Saudis are “visionaries?”
Extreme bullshit.
Then there’s the “golf desperately needs change” proclamation within “the statement.”
Really? The game is booming in popularity, golf equipment companies cannot keep up with demand, the numbers of people playing the sport is increasing. More women and children are taking up the game. Purses on the PGA Tour are exploding upward. Off-course financial opportunities are huge for the best players.
Desperately needs change?
Incredible bullshit.
In fact, this entire statement tells us what many have suspected about Mickelson all along — he’s full of crap, he’s a phony and he’s disliked by a huge percentage of players on the PGA Tour.
Phil has always been in it for Phil. His thumbs up to the crowds (stolen from Arnold Palmer) is part of his put-on “act.”
Truth be known, Phil Mickelson is so toxic at this point in time that he makes Chernobyl looks like the world’s most popular vacation destination.
KPMG has bid him adios — wants nothing further to do with him. Workday will join in next. Callaway is stuck with him and that lifetime contract and we’ll see if Phil is sincere in offering to give then an “out.”
Wouldn’t be surprised if the unflappable Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, might be a bit nervous about Phil showing up to play The Masters in April. Huge number of media there, many from outside of golf, and they’d be drooling at the opportunity to grill Mickelson alive in the Masters Media Center. Alan Shipnuck will be there to set the record straight.
Then there’s the PGA in May at Southern Hills. The PGA Of America typically brings the defending champion in a month early for “Media Day.” You think Phil’s going to be there?
So in the end, when you take everything into consideration and look at the big picture, Karma has caught up with Phil Mickelson.
You might recall that good old Phil threw not one, but two Ryder Cup captains under the bus. We won’t mention his “insider trading” escapades and the fact that he was so very chummy with known gambler/bookie Billy Walters.
Phil has had and still has a propensity to blame others for his screw-ups.
Now, Karma has shown up like a resurrected T-Rex and taken a giant bite out of Phil’s derriere.
Karma baby.
It’s a bitch.
7 Comments
baxter cepeda
How do you really feel ?
Much to agree with for sure.
Some of the things to look at from a different perspective:
Phil’s not saying the Saudi king himself is a golf visionary. It starts with Norman, whom like Phil has envisioned something new and fresh for golf for decades. That’s a fact. Then I’m sure there are some good fresh ideas coming out of that LIv office. There are also those players Phil brought in which have not been named. Whoever it is I don’t think the king or anyone in his government is micro managing the details for this golf league.
Phil actually has a propensity for admitting when he is wrong or even stupid. It has been one of his endearing traits.
I don’t know when Phil started with the thumbs up. Something about that bugs me too —probably because it was Mr Palmers thing— but Phil has been super nice to fans for a long time. If it’s been an act, that’s like the longest act in the history of the world.
Btw since you still think a pr pro wrote Phils statement, do you think that same person wrote Normans letter to Monahan? Both were equally unprofessional from what I’ve learned about PR writing. I’m puzzled how an organization with billions to invest in this would hire such poor PR writers.
Tom Edrington
I still have some awesome “insiders” to verify what I think I know…..in this case, if you took a secret poll, probably 95 percent of the players would tell you Phil is a phony…..Phil’s always been for Phil, he puts on a pretty good act when he needs to but his true side always reveals itself one way or another…
baxter cepeda
It’s no secret Phil has plenty of haters on tour. Maybe 95 percent as of today. Tiger has even more.
IMO we all have good and bad. But the bigger you are the more everyone criticizes you behind your back, which by the way is a super phony thing to do. Especially when most guys kiss up to Phil and Tiger whenever they get a chance.
Imo the toughest part of all this for Phil is that fellow players are hammering him publicly.
Tom Edrington
Phil’s day as a force out there has come and gone….the PGA win was his last shining moment….don’t see him winning again anywhere on regular Tour…..
baxter cepeda
I certainly wouldn’t put my money on that either today
rufustelestrats@gmail.com
Phil has stepped in it many times. This is just more personal to the PGA Tour as opposed to the other times where he simply just stepped in it in general.
The hand that has fed him and all of his family, friends, hangers on and fueled his jets is the PGA Tour. Full Stop. Sure sponsors help but you do not get sponsors unless you produce.
One win, abet a Major in all this time, it was only time before the door was open for the exit. He just broomed them out faster by his short sighted actions.
The best thing as you have noted for him is to disappear, play golf when and where they will allow him after the “shadow suspension” is done, and win.
Win or just shut up, perhaps both. Smile at the crowd, and shut up. Stop with the Calves activate, coffee fueled Peter Pan act that you don’t age, and play golf.
His fans will possibly forgive him, some will not, some will vilify him for his support of a foreign regime who uses bone saws to silence its critics. For the most part to those of us who follow the inside line of golf, the real question is what will he do.
Time will tell.
Tom Edrington
Well said, well thought out,thanks for weighing in on this!