TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 14: Phil Mickelson of the United States plays a shot during the first round on day one of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 14, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Reigning PGA Champion Phil Mickelson entered the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit for the first time in the event’s three-year history, but it will also be his last appearance.
Mickelson’s decision was fueled by an article published by the Detroit News. The newspaper obtained federal court records from 2007, that detailed how a Michigan-based bookie allegedly cheated the golfer out of $500,000.
The article caused outrage from Mickelson and prompted him to say that he will not return to the tournament.
“It was so much effort for me to be here and to have that type of unnecessary attack,” Mickelson said. “Not like I care, it happened 20-something years ago, it’s just the lack of appreciation. Yeah, I don’t see that happening. I don’t see me coming back. Not that I don’t love the people here, they have been great, but not with that type of thing happening.”
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Glenn Cohen, Mickelson’s attorney, told ESPN about his feelings regarding the article published a day before the golfer’s public comments.
“I’m disappointed they would curiously pick this week to write an article about a bet that was made over 20 years ago and a jury trial that took place in 2007, where the guy who was convicted is dead and where the only purpose for this article is to embarrass Phil Mickelson,” Cohen told ESPN.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic is a fairly new professional tournament that started in 2019. It replaced The National, later known as the Quicken Loans National tournament. The Rocket Mortgage Classic is held in Detroit.
The 51-year-old golfer shot a 69 on Thursday, marking the sixth time he has been under par out of 11 rounds. This began after he became the oldest major winner at the PGA Championship in May.
The golfer has a successful career that includes six major championships and 45 event wins. Mickelson is one of 17 players in golf history to win at least three of the four majors. The only major that has alluded him is the U.S. Open, in which he finished as a runner-up a total of six times.
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