x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
‘He’s gone dark’: Davis Love III says Phil Mickelson won’t answer friends’ calls
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf
News

‘He’s gone dark’: Davis Love III says Phil Mickelson won’t answer friends’ calls

By: Zephyr Melton
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
August 6, 2022
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
phil mickelson looks

Phil Mickelson has had a turbulent year.

Getty Images

The past 15 months have been a whirlwind for Phil Mickelson.

The stretch started with Lefty on top of the golf world. At the age of 50, he won the PGA Championship at Kiawah — his sixth major title — and was, quite literally, swarmed by the masses as they celebrated his triumph.

Later in the summer, Mickelson dominated on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. He won four times in six starts, including the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship, signifying the start of another impressive chapter in his career.

News
LIV golf lawsuit
11 surprises from Phil Mickelson, other LIV players’ lawsuit against the PGA Tour
By: Sean Zak

But as the calendar flipped to 2022, things became turbulent in Lefty World. Rumors began swirling with Mickelson’s name attached to the mysterious Saudi Golf League. In a February interview, he ripped the PGA Tour for their “obnoxious greed,” giving more credence to the claims he would defect from the establishment tour.

Then, the bombshell dropped. In an excerpt for his unauthorized biography on Mickelson, Alan Shipnuck published some unsavory comments from the six-time major winner, revealing his true intentions in his dealings with the Saudis.

“They’re scary motherf—— to get involved with,” he said. “We know they killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates. They’ve been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse. As nice a guy as [PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan] comes across as, unless you have leverage, he won’t do what’s right. And the Saudi money has finally given us that leverage.”

With the release of those comments, Mickelson burned bridges with both sides of the aisle. Shortly after the story ran, Mickelson issued a statement on social media and withdrew from the public eye.

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

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) February 22, 2022

Mickelson has since started competing again, mostly in LIV Golf events. But the Mickelson we see now is a different Mickelson than the one golf fans came to know over his 30-year pro career.

Gone are the sponsors that have become synonymous with his name — KPMG, Callaway, Workday. Instead, he wears monochromatic, dark ensembles. His press appearances are far less animated, too, and his once-lively Twitter account has gone dark.

Those aren’t the only ways in which Mickelson is different these days, either. According to Davis Love III, Lefty is a “troubled soul” — and he isn’t keen on accepting help from some of his closest friends in golf.

“He’s had a lot of friends — like me — trying very hard to try to help him,” Love III said on the Fire Drill podcast. “Not about LIV and not about golf, but about Phil Mickelson. Right now, it’s tragic that none of us can get him to take a phone call. You’ve heard Fred [Couples’] quotes. He’s gone dark.”

Additionally, Mickelson has recently joined with 10 other ex-Tour pros in filing an anti-trust suit against the PGA Tour.

“He always has challenged the rules and regulations of the PGA Tour,” Love III said. “But the PGA Tour is what made Phil Mickelson famous. … The system worked for him and made him famous and put him in the Hall of Fame.”

But despite much effort by some of his closest allies from the Tour, Mickelson has refused to take any advice on how to get things back on the right track.

“One of his really good friends said, ‘Look, we’ve tried as hard as we can,'” Love said. “Eventually, we have to move on.”

You can listen to the entire podcast here.

Latest In News

8 hours ago

2 rules officials, Rickie Fowler argue over relief. But Fowler has epic last word

10 hours ago

The LPGA just announced its new commissioner. He laid out 4 goals

15 hours ago

2025 Charles Schwab Challenge Friday tee times: Round 2 groupings

15 hours ago

Did fan's cocktail cause Max Homa's comically bad lie at PGA Championship?

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

Instruction
Golf balls pouring out of basket onto grass

Driving-range etiquette? Yep, it's a thing. Follow these 11 rules when you practice

By: Josh Sens
News
phil mickelson

Phil Mickelson nearly commits costly rules gaffe before official saves him

By: Sean Zak
News
Phil Mickelson of the United States reacts on the 18th green during the final round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.

Phil Mickelson hints at new criteria by which LIV players could qualify for majors

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Phil Mickelson of USA talks to the media during a practice round prior to the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on January 31, 2023 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia.

Was this Phil Mickelson tweet about Rory McIlroy sarcastic? He says not

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Phil Mickelson smiles with Jim "Bones" Mackay at the 1992 New England Classic.

'You could just tell:' How Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay landed on Phil Mickelson’s bag

By: Jack Hirsh
News
phil mickelson

The lawsuit against the PGA Tour just lost its star plaintiff: Phil Mickelson

By: Sean Zak
News
LIV Golf chicago ceremony

LIV Golf Chicago yet another reminder of radical, unsettling changes to pro golf

By: Sean Zak
News
phil mickelson and xander schauffele walk

Was Phil Mickelson right? Xander Schauffele weighs in: 'This is what he wanted'

By: James Colgan
News
Dustin Johnson and Greg Norman at LIV

What's a LIV Golf event *really* like? I spent 3 days at one to find out

By: Claire Rogers
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version