Rory: Phil deserves forgiveness for Saudi league comments

Rory McIlroy appears to be taking a softer approach toward Phil Mickelson after recently criticizing the golfer for his controversial comments about the Saudi-backed Super Golf League.

"We all make mistakes. We all say things we want to take back," McIlroy said Wednesday, according to Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard. "No one is different in that regard. But we should be allowed to make mistakes, and we should be allowed to ask for forgiveness and for people to forgive us and move on."

Mickelson said last month that if he were to jump ship for the rival Saudi league, it'd be because of the PGA TOUR's "obnoxious greed." He also said that it'd be worth working for the Saudis, despite their history of human rights abuses, if it meant a chance to change the PGA TOUR.

"We know they killed (Washington Post columnist Jamal) Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay," Mickelson said. "Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA TOUR operates."

Mickelson later said he thought these comments were off the record. Alan Shipnuck, who's writing Phil's biography, said that claim is "completely false."

McIlroy initially came down hard on Mickelson, calling his comments "naive, selfish, egotistical, and ignorant" back on Feb. 20.

Mickelson apologized for his comments two days after McIlroy reamed him out and announced he'd take some time away from golf to reflect. KPMG, Workday, and Amstel dropped Mickelson as sponsors, and Callaway paused their 18-year partnership.

Nonetheless, McIlroy said he believes in second chances and thinks the game of golf is better with Mickelson in it.

"I think Phil has been a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf, still is a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf," McIlroy said Wednesday.

"It's unfortunate that a few comments that he thought he was making in confidence or off the record got out there and - not used against him, but this whole situation is unfortunate."