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Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson won’t play in subsequent month’s event at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership, marking the primary time since 1994 that he will not compete there.
Mickelson, 51, had been listed among the many contributors till Monday, when his identify was included amongst previous champions who will not take part. An Augusta Nationwide official confirmed to ESPN on Monday that Mickelson will not participate within the occasion.
It will have been his 30th Masters begin.
The choice comes with Mickelson embroiled in controversy since final month, when creator Alan Shipnuck launched an excerpt from his upcoming unauthorized biography of him, through which the six-time main champion criticized the PGA Tour and mentioned he was concerned in drawing up the working settlement for a breakaway league being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund. In it, Mickelson described the Saudis as “scary” however mentioned he was looking past their controversial history of human rights violations to gain leverage with the PGA Tour.
His feedback drew widespread criticism — together with from fellow PGA Tour gamers — main Mickelson to apologize days later.
In response, Callaway paused its sponsorship with Mickelson, and KPMG, Amstel Gentle and Workday ended their relationships with him. The American Categorical event said he would no longer serve as its host and his basis would not be related to the occasion.
“Though it would not look this fashion now given my current feedback, my actions all through this course of have all the time been with the perfect pursuits of golf, my friends, sponsors and followers,” Mickelson wrote in his apology. “There may be the issue of off-the-record feedback being shared out of context and with out my consent, however the greater challenge is that I used phrases that don’t mirror my true emotions or intentions.
“It was reckless, I offended folks, and I’m deeply sorry for my alternative of phrases. I am past upset and can make each effort to self-reflect and be taught from this.”
He added that he was taking time away from golf “to prioritize those he loves most and to work on being the person he desires to be.”
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