'It Still Wasn't A True Apology' - Beem Responds To Mickelson's Statement

A lot has been made of the situation with Phil Mickelson and the PGA Tour over the last month. For example, the 51-year-old has called the Organisation out for "obnoxious greed", as well as admitting that his allegiance to the reported Saudi Golf League is a ruse to leverage the Tour.

However, due to the severe backlash of his recent comments to journalist and author of Mickelson's new biography, Alan Shipnuck, the six-time Major champion issued a statement.

“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," stated Mickelson. 

"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."

Understandably, his comments caused reaction among his fellow PGA Professional peers, with Rory McIlroy calling Mickelson's comments: "Naive, selfish, egotistical and ignorant," and multiple time PGA Tour winner, Justin Thomas, also stating that it seems like an: "Egotistical statement.”

Many individuals involved with golf also took to Twitter, with Ewen Murray, one of the most recognisable voices on Sky Sports Golf, tweeting, "Having watched Phil Mickelson for 30 years, admired his undoubted talent, and marvelled at his excellence, his sheer brilliance and his outstanding short game, how on earth can it come to this?. So terribly sad, so desperately unnecessary, so stupid."

Now, another Sky Sports pundit has had his say, with 2002 PGA Championship winner, Rich Beem, calling the statement from Mickelson: "Not a true apology."

Chatting with Nick Dougherty before the Honda Classic, Beemer said: "It's interesting, because not once did he ever apologise to the PGA Tour and come out and support them. There was a lot of apologies and talk about the Saudi League and the PIL. That part was very interesting, because - although he retracted, a little bit, what he said to Alan Shipnuck, it still wasn't a true apology.

"I know a lot of people read it a little bit differently, but it just didn't scream, like, really sincere - 'I'm sorry about all of this, I don't really mean it, I just want things better for the PGA Tour.' It was more about an apology to the Saudi's, like - 'Hey, sorry I'm having to back off about all of this, but they have forced my hand a bit here in the US.'

"I don't know, Phil is just not being himself. I don't know what it is. I've known him for many years, I haven't been a close friend of his by any stretch of the imagination, but this seems really bizarre to me, even by Phil's standards!"

Within Mickelson's statement, the 51-year-old announced that he: "Desperately needs some time away", and it seems that Beem agrees: "The one thing that I did take away, more than anything else, is that he is going to take time away from the game. Not just himself, but his family. I think that is exactly what he needs.

"As I said earlier, I know that Phil has always been a little bit different and that is why we like him - The way he plays the game and interacts with folks on social media, but this is completely different.

"I think the PGA Tour, in some form or fashion, will suspend him, but I also think that he will go willingly, I don't think he will go and push that envelope, I don't think he will try and deny it."