Veteran golfer and six-time major champion, Phil Mickelson, has declared the cessation of his long-standing sponsorship agreement with Callaway Golf. A partnership that sprouted in 2004, when Mickelson had just one major championship under his belt, has now reached its twilight after close to two decades. Mickelson, who has been seen wielding clubs from an array of manufacturers, shared this news on social media, lauding Callaway’s latest golf ball but affirming his departure from the brand’s sponsorship.
A Long-Standing Partnership Ends
The relationship between Mickelson and Callaway, which had been ‘paused’ since early 2022 due to controversial remarks by Mickelson about the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, has now officially ended. Despite the split, Mickelson recommended the use of Callaway’s Chrome Tour X golf balls, supporting his former sponsor one last time by proclaiming it as the fastest one off the driver.
Uncertain Future and New Beginnings
With this departure, Mickelson’s choice of equipment sponsor for the future remains unclear. The golfing world witnessed Mickelson using Ping clubs during the Open Championship last year, stirring speculation. This news comes after Tiger Woods concluded his enduring relationship with Nike earlier this month, marking another example of top-tier golfers terminating long-standing endorsement deals.
Phil Mickelson’s Struggle on the Green
Phil Mickelson’s next tee-off will be at the LIV Golf Mayakoba, signifying the commencement of the new season for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit. Despite this fresh start, Mickelson’s trajectory in LIV Golf has been fraught with struggle, finishing 34th and 39th in the past two seasons, and his team, HyFlyers GC, securing the ninth position last year. His performance in major tournaments has been inconsistent, with him clinching the title of the oldest runner-up at the Masters but missing the cut at both the US Open and the Open Championship.
