AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 13: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the fourth hole during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)A few weeks back when Phil Mickelson spoke a little too glowingly about the Saudi-backed Super Golf League, Rory McIlroy was the most vehemently opposed to Mickelson’s position. But it appears he’s now softened his stance a bit.
Appearing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy addressed the number of high-profile sponsors and fans turning on Mickelson. McIlroy made it clear that he wants Mickelson to return to the PGA Tour and acknowledged that he made a mistake.
“Phil will be back. I think the players want to see him back,” McIlroy said. “We all make mistakes. We all say things we want to take back. No one is different in that regard. But we should be allowed to make mistakes, and we should be allowed to ask for forgiveness and for people to forgive us and move on.”
Rory McIlroy on Phil Mickelson: 'I think the players want to see him back': https://t.co/Q1V4cqXhdi pic.twitter.com/LkUPgLG1Iu
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Phil Mickelson has lost sponsorships from KPMG and Workday in the fallout of his Super Golf League comments. Callaway Golf has also decided to “pause” their relationship with the six-time major winner.
“It is unfortunate,” McIlroy said. “I think Phil has been a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf, still is a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf.
“It’s unfortunate that a few comments that he thought he was making in confidence or off the record got out there and – not used against him, but this whole situation is unfortunate.”
McIlroy is right when he says it’s an unfortunate situation. Unfortunately for Mickelson, it’s the end result of a risk he took by making a public statement about a controversial topic.
Will Phil Mickelson get his sponsors back?
