Golf reporter daggers Phil Mickelson by publishing illuminating email exchanges
Alan Shipnuck has published email exchanges he had with Phil Mickelson after the six-time major champion accused the journalist of lying about him.
Prominent golf journalist and author Alan Shipnuck has published email exchanges he claims proves he isn't lying about Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson became front page news around the globe in February 2022 after his comments about working with the Saudis to form LIV Golf were published by Shipnuck.
His gob-smacking thoughts revealed Mickelson was comfortable overlooking the Saudis' human rights abuses as the Kingdom's Public Investment Fund provided the golfer opportunity to re-shape the PGA Tour and how it operates.
One particular comment that drew consternation was when he referenced the murder and dismemberment of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Mickelson lost a number of long-time sponsors, such as KPMG, as a result of what he said. Callaway 'paused' their association with the golfer.
The six-time major champion then disappeared from public view for nearly four months, only resurfacing when LIV launched in June 2022.
When he returned, Mickelson claimed what Shipnuck published was 'off the record' in his grovelling apology to the golf world.
Shipnuck firmly denies this.
The two have been exchanging jibes on social media in recent days after Shipnuck claimed Mickelson had been telling his inner circle that Jon Rahm would be signing for LIV Golf imminently.
Mickelson called Shipnuck a liar and even went as far as saying the writer was making up sources. Read about that here.
Shipnuck decided to respond to Mickelson's latest claim directly on 27 November and in a lengthy post outlined his defence.
He even posted email exchanges he had with Mickelson's lawyer before his biography of the golfer was published last year.
It is these emails that Shipnuck claims demonstrate he intended to publish Mickelson's comments about the Saudis, LIV and the PGA Tour.
See here:
Shipnuck wrote on X: "Phil can say whatever he wants but that doesn't make it true. He has lied maliciously about me and I think his current comments should be seen through that lens."
See the full post here:
.@PhilMickelson wants me to reveal confidential sources. I don’t do that. I do try to be fair to anybody I write about.
When I was working on the Mickelson biography “Phil,” he called me because he wanted me to know what was really happening behind the scenes with LIV Golf and… pic.twitter.com/OzT9F8ZFtB— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) November 27, 2023
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