Phil Mickelson is trying to get himself out of the bunker.
The famed golfer released a statement on Tuesday afternoon apologizing for controversial comments he made about partnering with Saudi Arabia in an attempt to create a Super Golf League to compete with the PGA.
The 51-year-old for “anything I said that was taken out of context” and blamed the recent quotes, which came in an excerpt in a new book by Alan Shupnick, as being “off record and shared out of context and without my consent.”
Shupnick responded to Mickelson’s apology by saying the “off the record” piece was not true.
Despite the apology, his sponsors are already dropping out.
KPMG, Mickelson’s longtime sponsor since 2008, announced it was parting ways with the golfer on Tuesday.
Mickelson, who sports KPMG’s logo on his hat, reportedly earned $40 million in sponsorship money from them last year.
Mickelson has come under fire in recent days for his quotes, in which he tried to justify why partnering with the Saudis is a good idea despite the country’s horrific human rights record.
Mickelson had hoped that the prospect of a new Saudi league, which would attract the top golfers with millions of dollars in cash, would pressure the PGA Tour to make changes to its media rights policies.
Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau were rumored to join the Saudi league, but released statements over the weekend showing their support for the PGA.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy delivered a scathing criticism of Mickelson, calling his comments, “naïve, selfish, egotistical, ignorant.”
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