The six-time major tournament winner who won the last of his three green Masters jackets in 2010 said last month he would be taking “some time” from golf after he was criticized for comments he made about the Saudi regime and a proposed new tour. around the country. .
Mickelson was officially listed on the Masters website as a “past non-playing champion”.
In late February, the 51-year-old apologized for his comments about a reportedly Saudi Arabia-sponsored splinter golf tour, saying they were unofficial. and without his consent.
The Saudi-backed golf league is a proposed venture that is trying to divert golfers away from the main sports tours – the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour – with big money offers.
Mickelson was quoted from a 2021 interview with writer Alan Shipnak for his book “Phil: The Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Brightest Superstar” where he said he would consider joining the proposed Super League because it was “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”. change the way the PGA Tour works.”
The American is further quoted as saying that “Saudi money has finally given us (the players) the leverage” to be able to make a difference in the PGA.
Shipnak quoted Mickelson as making disparaging remarks about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia and claiming that the kingdom killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Mickelson apologized for his “reckless” comments and said he would be taking a break from golf to “prioritize those I love the most and work on being who I want to be.”
A number of notable golfers, including Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, reaffirmed their commitment to the PGA Tour following his comments, with Mickelson also losing a number of sponsors.
The Masters starts on April 7th and Hideki Matsuyama will become the current champion.