PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Is Phil Mickelson suspended from the PGA Tour, or isn’t he?
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, talking on Tuesday upfront of this week’s Gamers Championship at TPC Sawgrass, spoke in circles on the subject, at instances talking out of each side of his mouth.
In doing so, Monahan certain made it sound as if Mickelson might have been suspended for explosive feedback he made about the PGA Tour’s “obnoxious greed’’ in addition to his dealings with the proposed Saudi-backed golf league fronted by Greg Norman.
“Hear, I’m not going to remark — we don’t remark — on disciplinary issues,’’ Monahan stated. “Phil has requested for a while to step away, and I’m not going to remark any additional on that.’’
Mickelson, 51, issued a press release final month, apologizing for what he termed as “reckless’’ feedback and saying he was “deeply sorry for my alternative of phrases.’’
“I’m past upset and can make each effort to self-reflect and study from this,” Mickelson stated within the assertion. “I do know I've not been my finest and desperately want a while away to prioritize those I really like most and work on being the person I wish to be.’’
Whether or not that “time away’’ is a results of a suspension or just Mickelson opting to take it on his personal stays unsure.
Getty
“I've not talked to Phil since he made his feedback and since he stated that he was stepping away,’’ Monahan stated. “I believe the ball is in his court docket. I'd welcome a cellphone name from him. He has stated that he’s stepping away and he desires time for reflection. That’s one thing that I and we're going to respect and honor. When he’s prepared to come back again to the PGA Tour, we’re going to have that dialog. That’s a dialog I sit up for.”
These phrases counsel that Mickelson is required to talk to Monahan earlier than he performs one other event.
When Monahan was requested particularly whether or not, had Mickelson not opted to take “time away’’ and needed to play in The Gamers Championship this week, he would have been “welcome’’ to take action, the commissioner waffled.
“We don’t touch upon disciplinary issues, potential issues or precise issues,’’ Monahan stated. “However each participant is accountable for his or her actions out right here.’’
These phrases — “each participant is accountable for his or her actions out right here’’ — carry vital read-between-the-lines weight and go away a number of questions unanswered.
Neither Mickelson nor his representatives have commented about whether or not or not he has been suspended.
Monahan’s non-answers on the subject symbolize Exhibit A concerning the dearth of transparency on the a part of the Tour. Each different sport publicizes when a participant has been suspended. The PGA Tour, curiously, doesn't.
“I believe the one factor that the Tour typically may do a greater job at is transparency, whether or not that be with … yeah, simply with all the things,’’ Rory McIlroy stated Tuesday, going so far as to name the Tour a “closed store.’’
“I’ve at all times felt that just a few of the bans or suspensions, I believe that ought to all be introduced,’’ McIlroy stated. “I believe that needs to be extra clear.’’
When knowledgeable of McIlroy’s feedback, Monahan joked: “He simply stated that? I'd simply say efficient instantly, Rory McIlroy is suspended.”
“No, hear, Rory is a member of our coverage board, he’s a participant director,’’ Monahan stated. “That [transparency] is one thing that has been raised prior to now, and if that’s one thing that a member of our board feels strongly about, relaxation assured it’s a dialog we’ll have with our Participant Advisory Council and finally our board. “It’s a criticism that has been lobbied in opposition to the PGA Tour by the years and I believe we at all times need to be open to evolving. That’s one thing that we're open to.’’
The subsequent strain level to this Mickelson difficulty will probably be on the Masters subsequent month at Augusta Nationwide, the place he has gained three inexperienced jackets. Technically, the Masters is a PGA Tour occasion, however the powers that be at Augusta stroll to their very own beat. They revere their previous champions and Mickelson stays probably the most standard gamers on the earth.
Mickelson cherishes the Masters like no different event and at his age he is aware of the window is closing quickly on the variety of possibilities he has to win a fourth inexperienced jacket. So, regardless of his “time away,’’ it’s troublesome to think about him skipping this yr’s Masters by his personal alternative.
“Hear, he’s a participant that’s gained 45 instances on the PGA Tour,’’ Monahan stated. “He’s had a Corridor of Fame profession. He’s gained right here at The Gamers Championship. He’s impressed lots of people and helped develop this Tour, his Tour. So, as troublesome as it's to learn among the issues that had been stated, finally a dialog will probably be had when he’s able to have it, and I will probably be able to have it, as properly.’’
Post a Comment