feature-image

Reuters

feature-image

Reuters

Phil Mickelson is one of the most controversial golf players in today’s time. The six-time major winner has ample records under his name. Mickelson recently took a big career decision by quitting the PGA Tour and joining the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

Mickelson’s decision influenced tons of golfers to join the Saudi-backed league. Players like former world no. 1 Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau also joined the league shortly after Mickelson. But the 52-year-old hasn’t been so influential ever before. Instead, his words and statements have always been confusing and deceptive to his fans as well as everyone around him.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

A similar event took place when the player made a statement after the big loss at the Ryder Cup in 2014. But what was so arguable about the statement made by Mickelson? 

ADVERTISEMENT

Phil Mickelson calls out U.S. Captain for their loss

After the heavy loss of the U.S. team at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, Mickelson took off to the team press conference. The U.S. Captain, Tom Watson, was visible to the whole world at that conference.

Mickelson spoke out as if Watson was not present in the room at all. He talked to the media and referred to the pod system used by Paul Azinger, the 2008 U.S. team captain. He talked about the system followed by the former captain and stated that Watson should have followed the same system.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read More: What are Phil Mickelson’s Kids Doing Now?

article-image

USA Today via Reuters

But as soon as a reporter followed up with the question, Mickelson being himself answered classically. He said, “Oh, I’m sorry you’re taking it that way. I’m just talking about what Paul Azinger did to help us play our best… You asked me what I thought we should do going toward to bring our best golf out and I go back to when we played our best golf and try to replicate that formula.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The Mickelson controversy with Alan Shipnuck

ADVERTISEMENT

Another story where Mickelson got caught up due to his own words is his classic biography incident. The golfer said a few controversial things to Alan Shipnuck, who narrated the incident to the world through his book. Mickelson said a lot of inappropriate things about the PGA Tour, and called them “scary mother*******”

article-image

USA Today via Reuters

The statements weren’t proven until he confirmed them with a new statement. “There is the problem of off-record comments being shared out of context and without my consent,” Mickelson said in his new statement. He also claimed that his statements did not give out his true intentions and feelings to the world. However, the man later apologized for his words, but the world saw a new face of their beloved golfer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Watch This Story: A Shocking Revelation About Phil Mickelson

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Joydeep Singh

1,339 Articles

Joydeep Singh is a senior golf writer at EssentiallySports, boasting an impressive portfolio of over 1000 articles. Joydeep's expertise spans across various aspects of the sport, specifically his speculations and analysis of the upcoming events on the PGA Tour calendar. One of Joydeep's most notable moments at EssentiallySports was when his article on Tiger Woods' withdrawal from the 2023 Masters garnered an overwhelming response from fans. As a devoted fan of Woods, Joydeep firmly believes that the golf legend still has what it takes to inch closer to Jack Nicklaus' record. Joydeep relaxes on the weekend with a game of golf in his neighborhood fairway, with close friends, where he is known for his clutch putts.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Manaal Siddiqui

ADVERTISEMENT