Phil Mickelson clarifies, apologizes for tax comments

Phil Mickelson on Monday issued a statement clarifying and apologizing for comments he made a day earlier in which he hinted he might retire from golf or move out of California because of recent tax increases.

“I absolutely love what I do. I love and appreciate the game of golf and the people who surround it. I’m as motivated as I’ve ever been to work on my game, to compete and to win championships,” Mickelson said via his spokesperson T.R. Reinman, according to several reports.

On Sunday after his final round at the Humana Challenge, Mickelson responded to reporters’ questions seeking elucidation for statements related to Steve Stricker’s “semi-retirement” that he made on a conference call earlier in the week. During the call, he noted that “we’re all going to have our own kind of way of handling things, handling time in our career, our family, handling what’s gone on the last couple of months politically.”

In seeking to explain those observations, Mickelson claimed on Sunday that increasing state and federal taxes on the wealthy would prompt him to make “drastic changes” that could include quitting golf and/or moving to Canada.

Mickelson also said during Sunday’s media session that he would expand on his tax-related statement during his presser at this week’s Farmers Insurance Open. No doubt additional questions will arise, but the 42-year-old San Diego native may decide to let Monday’s remarks stand on their own.

“Right now, I’m like many Americans who are trying to understand the new tax laws. I’ve been learning a lot over the last few months and talking with people who are trying to help me make intelligent and informed decisions,” Mickelson’s Monday statement continued. “I certainly don’t have a definitive plan at this time, but like everyone else I want to make decisions that are best for my future and my family.

“Finances and taxes are a personal matter and I should not have made my opinions on them public,” he said. “I apologize to those I have upset or insulted and assure you I intend to not let it happen again.”