Phil Mickelson offers apology for Super Gold League comments, will focus on 'the best interests of golf'

Phil Mickelson tweeted an apology on Tuesday in which the six-time major champion said he was sorry for recent comments he made about the PGA Tour and organizers of a Saudi-financed breakaway league.

«Although it doesn't look this way now given my recent comments, my actions throughout this process have always been with the best interests of golf, my peers, sponsors and fans,» Mickelson wrote. «There is the problem of off the record comments being shared out of context and without my consent, but the bigger issue is that I used words 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."

Mickelson, 51, caused an uproar last week when author Alan Shipnuck released an excerpt from his upcoming unauthorized biography of the six-time major champion. In the excerpt published on the Fire Pit Collective website, Mickelson described the Saudis as «scary» but said he was looking past their controversial history of human rights violations to gain leverage with the PGA Tour.

Mickelson indicated he would be taking time away from the tour. He has skipped the last four events.

«The past 10 years I have felt the pressure and stress slowly affecting me at a deeper level,» he wrote. «I know I have not been my best and desperately need some time away to prioritize the ones I love most and work on being the man I want to be.»

On the golf podcast No Laying Up, Shipnuck said Mickelson reached out to him to discuss the PGA Tour and other issues in November. Shipnuck said Mickelson never said their discussion was off the record or for background purposes only and knew it would