Mickelson won’t play in Masters

Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, out of public view since his inflammatory remarks about the Saudifunded rival league and the PGA Tour, has decided not to play at Augusta National this year.

Mickelson’s name was moved from the list of players expected to compete in the Masters to a section at the bottom titled, “past champions not playing.”

The club confirmed that Mickelson has notified Augusta National he will not be playing. The Masters is April 7-10.

It will be the first time Mickelson isn’t at the Masters since 1994, when he was recovering from a broken leg suffered while skiing.

Mickelson, who last year became golf ’s oldest major champion when he won the PGA Championship at age 50, was at the Saudi International when he accused the PGA Tour in a Golf Digest interview of “obnoxious greed.”

Two weeks later, golf writer Alan Shipnuck published part of his upcoming biography on Mickelson that shed further insight into his involved with Greg Norman and the Saudi-funded “Super Golf League.”

Mickelson told Shipnuck the Saudis behind a proposed breakaway rival league were “scary mother (expletive)s to get involved with.”

He also said it was worth getting in bed with the Saudis, despite their history of human rights abuses, if it meant a chance to change the PGA Tour.

“We know they killed (Washington Post columnist Jamal) Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay,” he said. “Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”

The interview took place last November. Mickelson apologized for the comments that he described as “reckless.” He also said they were off the record. Shipnuck says they were not.

Longtime corporate sponsor KPMG said it was ending its relationship with Mickelson. Amstel Light followed suit, while Workday said it wouldn’t be renewing its contract, which was due to expire. Callaway Golf said its relationship with Mickelson that dates to 2004 would be paused, while American Express no longer wanted Mickelson as its tournament host of the PGA Tour event La Quinta, California.

Mickelson hasn’t played since the Saudi International on Feb. 6. He said in his statement that he “desperately needed” time away to sort our his priorities.

College basketball: LSU is filling its coaching vacancy with Murray State’s Matt McMahon, according to reports. The hiring comes two days after Murray State’s season ended with a loss to Saint Peter’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. McMahon, 43, replaces Will Wade, who was fired March 12 for cause amid allegations of serious recruiting violations.

NFL: The Saints are bringing back QB Jameis Winston after not landing Deshaun Watson. Winston and the Saints agreed to two-year deal worth $28 million with $21 million guaranteed, ESPN reported. Winston, 28, went 5-2 in his first year as a starter with the Saints in 2021, but he suffered a knee injury Oct. 31.