Masters champ Phil Mickelson may be the anti-Tiger Woods now and a great family man, but there was a time he once aroused the ire of Irish Americans everywhere for comments he made about ugly Irish women.
It was back in 1991 when Mickelson was part of the American amateur team playing in the Walker Cup at Portmarnock Golf Club near Dublin.
Even back then Mickelson was a marked man, having owned a PGA event while still an amateur and blazing a trail as a great party animal when not on the fairways.
But his his comments to an interviewer when asked about a difficult shot he made turned the Irish off in a big way, as Sports Illustrated reported at the time.
"Asked by a TV reporter on Thursday to comment on a replay that showed him hitting out of the rough near the gallery during that morning's play, Mickelson chuckled and said, "That's not a place I want to be. The Irish women are not that attractive."
Mickelson awoke the next morning to these headlines in two Dublin papers: BAD BOY PHIL! and MASTERFUL MICKELSON DRAWS IRISH IRE. And there was trouble back home, where the Irish Consul in New York and ESPN, which broadcast Mickelson's words, both reported that they received a flurry of phone calls from angry Irish Americans.
"I knew I was in for it the moment I said it," Mickelson said later. "It was a bad joke, and I feel just terrible about it."
As Sports Illustrated noted, "The Irish love a rascal. And somebody should have told Phil Mickelson that last Friday night in Dublin. He was prowling the public rooms of the Berkeley Court Hotel after last week's Walker Cup competition, offering red-faced apologies for his youthful indiscretions."
I think we can give Phil a mulligan. He has certainly gone on to bigger and better things since.
20 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.SingleDonald | Apr 13, 2010, 09:09 PM EDT
I wish to share in the view that this is old news, and that Phil has been a good guy since! It's time we all got over what he said, back in 1991! I am an Italian American, and therefore don't consider any Irish girls to be "unattractive"!
Paullus | Apr 13, 2010, 12:33 PM EDT
I think 'sensitivity' is getting out of hand! Years ago, comments like Mickelson made, would only have received a chuckle. PC dominates any conversation, written word or comment, so much so, that one has to censor their words before they speak or write! Come on, why bring up something that is ancient history and, besides, he did apologize for those comments. Give the guy a break!
addielouise | Apr 12, 2010, 07:04 PM EDT
I think we all make remarks at some time or other that we later regret. These golfers are all human and subject to human error. We need to get over these things and look to the growth these people have experienced and have become better people because of this growth.
DrTrelawney | Apr 12, 2010, 05:26 PM EDT
Pathetic. This is just about the most feeble effort I've seen on this site to get worked up about supposed anti-Irish sentiment. And that's saying something. Grow up.
SouthSideIrish | Apr 12, 2010, 05:17 PM EDT
Oh big deal. What a petty story.
kmprkvn | Apr 12, 2010, 04:33 PM EDT
This is really insignificant.
kcgaelic | Apr 12, 2010, 03:00 PM EDT
find some interesting and real news
Verum68 | Apr 12, 2010, 02:53 PM EDT
Do you really think it was appropriate to pull this ancient story out? I don't. Let's celebrate Mickelson's victory and let this almost twenty year old story die.
cathray | Apr 12, 2010, 01:36 PM EDT
Irish women are mostly beautiful,fun to be with and a very suitable companion for social occasions. It just proves You can be a great golfer and a poor judge of women.
maxriley | Apr 12, 2010, 01:33 PM EDT
NOT WORTH A COMMENT!!
irishmarks | Apr 12, 2010, 01:29 PM EDT
Are you that hard up for news that you have to print things like this? It was so many years ago... and everyone makes mistakes. I say forgive and forget. He is a much more mature person now.
MikeRock | Apr 12, 2010, 12:24 PM EDT
Good Lord! You're going back 19 years to dig up something as inane as an off-handed remark?
kpbdublin | Apr 12, 2010, 12:16 PM EDT
All this proves is that we are the most ludicrously hyper-sensitive nationality on the planet. The remark was not even derogatory. I think the Irish abroad get more worked up about this kind of thing than the Irish at home.
Liamkeyes | Apr 12, 2010, 11:50 AM EDT
I honestly believe that it was a bad choice of words and he definitely regretted it. In the spirit of the Irish people, give him a pass on it. He has already apologised and moved on. His Golfing over the week end was sensational. He's a worthy wearer of the Green Jacket. I suggest that he wears one of his Three Jackets next St. Patrick's Day.
tomgallagher | Apr 12, 2010, 10:47 AM EDT
A faux pax nearly 20 years ago, o please, grow up. Well done Lefty.
mandokeith | Apr 12, 2010, 09:38 AM EDT
Sean, Tiger Woods did not wear green socks for the Masters, did you report on something as important as that? Chirp...........chirp.......
kelauggie1 | Apr 12, 2010, 09:31 AM EDT
Sean, find something current of importance. We could care less about what Phil said 20 years ago. He apologized (but I must admit I happen to agree with his assessment after my recent trip to Ireland, and I'm 100% Irish), so stop trying to stir the pot. This is poor journalism, to say the least.
sissybiff | Apr 12, 2010, 09:19 AM EDT
Very old and very tired "news"
DrTrelawney | Apr 12, 2010, 06:50 AM EDT
"Back in 1991.." That's nearly 20 years ago! And this is what you choose to report on following Mickelson's triumph.
knowthyself | Apr 12, 2010, 01:04 AM EDT
Hey come on. we all make stupid statements in our life time. cut the guy some slack . I think it was a bad choice of words . To me i think my Irish Wife is Beautiful Women i have Ever set my eyes on & a Great Mother.By the way my Irish Daughter is very Beautifl God bless the Irish Women.