The Phil Mickelson Circus rolls into golf’s breakaway LIV Series

American returns to action after four months out of golf and says he will be more careful about airing strong opinions

Gone is the blue-chip branding, gone is the beaming smile. A subdued, humble - or humbled - Phil Mickelson sat in front of the media for the first time since becoming embroiled in a scandal linked to the very tournament at which he has chosen to make his return. I've made, said and done a lot of things that I regret," he said. I'm sorry for that and for the hurt that it has caused a lot of people." He looked composed, if far from completely comfortable.

Mickelson's willingness to take the opportunity provided by the LIV Series can be readily explained - starts with m" and rhymes with honey - but it remains curious when placed against the comments that landed him in so much trouble. When calling Saudi Arabia scary motherfuckers" while directly referencing human rights abuses and the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, Mickelson admitted he was well aware of who he was dealing with in negotiating to play on this platform.