x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Phil Mickelson returns to Twitter amid debate over Saudi golf league
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

Phil Mickelson returns to Twitter amid debate over Saudi golf league

By: Nick Piastowski
  • Follow on Twitter
May 12, 2022
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson in February at the Saudi International.

Getty Images

Two hearts. And clicks back on those hearts. 

Phil Mickelson liked two tweets, and a short while later, he unliked them. And that activity this week marked his return to Twitter, or any kind of known public interaction, two and a half months since he said he would be “taking some time away” following controversial comments on the LIV Golf Invitational series, a new, Saudi Arabia-funded golf league. 

What Mickelson was interacting with may also give you a hint at where his feelings lie, with the Saudi league now less than a month from its first event, the PGA Tour saying this week that it would not grant releases to its members wishing to play in it, including Mickelson — and the PGA Championship starting next week, when he could defend his title won a year ago.    

Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson liked this tweet this week. twitter.com

Mickelson liked a comment that said, “Yet @PhilMickelson gets canceled…WTF,” which was in response to a tweet from media personality Clay Travis, who wrote, “The NBA, which pulled its All Star Game out of Charlotte over a transgender bathroom bill, is playing games next year in the United Arab Emirates where homosexuality is punishable by death.” He also liked a tweet that read, “PGA Tour block rebels including Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood from Saudi breakaway series #YahooSports #GOLF #P…,” from an account entitled “offthebooks.crypto,” which appears to be a news aggregator. 

Mickelson first unliked the comment, then the tweet. The tweet had not tagged him, so perhaps somewhat oddly, he may have had to search for it. 

The likes and dislikes were Mickelson’s first known public activity since Feb. 22, when he put out a statement in response to comments he made for a forthcoming biography on him by Alan Shipnuck. (Shipnuck has disputed Mickelson’s characterization of their conversation.) In an excerpt for the book, published Feb. 17 on firepitcollective.com, Shipnuck detailed Mickelson’s involvement with LIV Golf, the new company headed by Greg Norman that is expected to launch the invitational series in early June and is backed by the Public Investment Fund of the Saudi Arabia government. 

Mickelson called his new partners “scary motherf———s,” and he also insisted that PGA Tour media rights should be redistributed more equitably to Tour members. 

News
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan seem to have their organizations on a collision course.
The PGA Tour just drew a line in the sand. Greg Norman responded. Now what?
By: Dylan Dethier

“Although it doesn’t look this way now given my recent comments, my actions throughout this process have always been with the best interest of golf, my peers, sponsors, and fans,” Mickelson wrote in his statement. “There is the problem of off record comments being shared out of context and without my consent, but the bigger issue is that I used words I sincerely regret that do not reflect my true feelings or intentions. 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.”

Mickelson has also not played in an event since the Saudi International during the first week of February, though speculation grew over his return two weeks ago, when Mickelson’s agent said the player had registered to play in both the PGA Championship and next month’s U.S. Open, along with requesting a release from the PGA Tour to play in the first LIV Golf Invitational Series event, which is June 9-11 in London. Registering for these events, however, does not mean Mickelson will definitely play in them. And this week, the Tour denied all of its members’ requests for the LIV tournament. 

As for the PGA Championship, Seth Waugh, the CEO of the PGA of America, said last week on the 5 Clubs Conversation podcast that he has had “a number of conversations” with Mickelson as he decides whether to defend his title next week. Waugh thought Mickelson would make a “late decision” to play. 

“And I think, you know, we’ll continue to have conversations,” he said. “I’ve known Phil for 20-something years, and he’s a complicated guy with complicated thoughts and in a complicated situation. And so we’re all trying to figure out what’s best for him and frankly what’s best for the game and we’re going to keep having those conversations.”

Latest In News

42 minutes ago

Behind the scenes of Subpar's wild day at sand rails with Kyle Busch

12 hours ago

After an emphatic PGA, Scottie Scheffler told the world his secret

12 hours ago

Even when there was doubt, PGA champ Scottie Scheffler had none

12 hours ago

Jon Rahm lost the PGA Championship, but it didn't look that way from up close

Nick Piastowski

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing stories across the golf space. And when he’s not writing about ways to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash away his score. You can reach out to him about any of these topics — his stories, his game or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter 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