Callaway pauses relationship with Phil Mickelson; Workday cuts ties with golfer after comments

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Callaway Golf stopped its relationship with Phil Mickelson on Friday, becoming the fourth sponsor to either end or halt its partnership with the six-time major champion after his controversial comments about the PGA Tour and organizers of a Saudi Arabia-backed league became public last week.

Earlier this week, the two companies said they were ending their sponsorship with the golfer. Workday and Callaway both did the same thing on Friday.

Callaway doesn't condone Phil's comments and we were very disappointed in his choice of words -- they in no way reflect our values or what we stand for as a company. We respect his decision to take time away from the game. At this time we have agreed to pause our partnership and will re- evaluate our relationship later.

Callaway and Lefty had agreed to extend their relationship through the rest of his playing career.

An excerpt from Alan Shipnuck's unauthorized biography of golfer Phil Mickelson was released last week. In it, he described the Saudis as scary but said he was looking past their history of human rights violations to gain leverage.

His comments drew a lot of criticism and he apologized days later.

Although it doesn't look this way now, my actions throughout this process have always been with the best interests of golf, my peers, sponsors and fans.

I am deeply sorry for my choice of words, it was reckless and I offended people. I am beyond disappointed and will make every effort to learn from this.

He said he was taking time away from golf to work on being the man he wants to be, and to prioritize the ones he loves most.

On the Fire Pit Collective, Shipnuck said that Lefty reached out to him to discuss issues on the PGA Tour. The discussion was never said to be off the record or for background purposes only, and it would be used in his book.

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and I apologize to the people I have hurt. This has always been about supporting the players and I appreciate all the people who have given me the benefit of doubt.