Phil Mickelson regrets airing opinion on taxes

Phil Mickelson of the United States hits off the 15th tee during Round Three of the 94th PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on August 12, 2012 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. / Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO Phil Mickelson says he should have kept his opinions on taxes to himself.

Mickelson had suggested "drastic changes" were in store for him because of changes in federal and state taxes that he says tap into more than 60 percent of his income. He said it was the reason behind his decision not to be part of the new ownership group of the San Diego Padres.

• phil Mickelson plans "drastic changes" over taxes

Mickelson says in a statement that finances and taxes are personal and he should not have publicized his complaints. He's apologizing to anyone insulted by his comments and says he won't let that happen again.

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Phil Mickelson on his game, and education project

The San Diego native is to hold a news conference Wednesday at Torrey Pines.

Here is Mickelson's statement, via CBSSports.com:

I absolutely love what I do. I love and appreciate the game of golf and the people who surround it. I'm as motivated as I've ever been to work on my game, to compete and win championships...

I'm like many Americans who are trying to understand the new tax laws. I certainly don't have a definitive plan at this time, but like everyone else I want to make decisions that are best for my future and my family.

Finances and taxes are a personal matter and I should not have made my opinions on them public. I apologize to those I have upset or insulted and assure you I intend to not let it happen again.

[outback_jackson]

"Finances and taxes are a personal matter and I should not have made my opinions on them public. I apologize to those I have upset or insulted and assure you I intend to not let it happen again." -- phil mickelson


That's a much better statement phil, than the one previously this week.

[richrider]

New Mickelson development. At today's golf tournament, Tiger Woods publicly admitted he moved to Florida in 1996 for tax reasons -- the same reasons Mickelson is concerned about. Below is the article AND the video of Woods at the news conference.

But here's the kicker: Tiger Woods left CA in 1996 because of California's confiscatory 9.3% state income tax (a tax that kicked in at under $100K for a married couple). Today Phil Mickelson is ready to abandon the misnamed "Golden State" for the same reason -- but today's CA income tax rate above a million dollars is 43% HIGHER than when Woods left!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2266830/Tiger-Woods-admits-left-California-tax-rates.html?ICO=most_read_module

[outback_jackson]

While CA income tax rates on those earning above $1 million did increase due to Prop 30 for the next 7 years, it's a marginal rate increase of 3% from 10.3% to 13.3%, and more like a 29% increase on the marginal rate and not taking into consideration the effective tax rate.

This was done by the voters by a huge majority -- 55% vs. 44% -- and also increased the sales tax by one-quarter of one-percent.

Maybe Tiger has a room for phil to rent on Jupiter Island.

[HarryWeed]

I'd get the hell out of California too. I think Mickelson has every right to complain about his taxes. He a panzy to take it back. California is going to lose many high income earners.

[bentleytn]

I won't dispute what his actual tax rate is, I'll concede those who think his "guestimate" is wrong and he pays less.

But one thing that is certainly true, he pays more money to the federal government than the entire 346 commenters on this thread combined (using the normal distribution of wealth average - Its remotely possible that Ross Perot commented in which case I'd most likely be wildly wrong)

I don't know about you, but I want those folks who are paying your tab and mine to hang around, keep hitting golf balls (or building computers?) and contributing to the total tax pool. The only way to do that is to provide a reasonable incentive to do that. If they are nice enough to hang around and keep working, playing, and winning, we might have a chance to to pay down this snowball that keeps growing called the national debt.

The problem with this thread is that most commenters seem to think Phil is an ass for wanting to keep more of his earned money. Wake up buttercups, Phil doesn't owe you or me anything. I/we have to go out and earn it for ourselves. But keep re-electing socialist who tell you its all going to be ok, and in passing to win an election say "by the way here is a free cell phone and lunch", and you are going to wake up one day and all of the Phils (and Bills, and Ross') are going to be living in Monaco and you and I will actually have to go out and earn our own keep.

Oh, and by the way, if that happens good luck paying down that debt tab, we will make Greece look like a bad game of Monopoly. We will be paying 10 grand for a carton of milk and wondering what happened to the good old days when the Vanderbilts, Gate's, and Mickelson's use to be kind enough to help out by paying 100X in total proceeds to the government on our behalf.

I'm out - I have to go out and earn enough money to pay for my kid's lunches today and try to better myself.... I'm thinking about taking up golf, by reading this thread most folks seem to think its a cakewalk to win on the PGA tour and its so easy that after you win you throw the millions in the air and say to your friends and fellow citizens, take it, I'll win again next week.

[darwufche]

Isn't it laughable when millionaires whine? Sure changes my opinion of Mickelson, and similar wealthy cry-baby ilk.

[WhereisOT]

"Phil Mickelson says he should have kept his opinions on taxes to himself"

kpmg has zero advice..Can't help him out...where to hide $...
2005 Tax shelter fraud..
"admitted criminal wrongdoing in creating fraudulent tax shelters to help wealthy clients avoid $2.5 billion in taxes"

Guess not...
Call romoney...the rich tax dodger whom the rich tried to buy his way into the White House...to better protect and serve the rich..

[Rakeshdry]

It is truly a shame that so many in America are incapable of civil discussion on important issues. The nastiness that appears here from people who are bitter, jealous and envious of success is outrageous. There is a long line of political leaders who practice tax avoidance while trying to soak others, and a long line of citizens who think it is perfectly OK to raise anyone's taxes but their own. Phil is right to speak out against government that wastes enormous amounts of money while bringing ever higher taxes. Anyone who would not think the same way in his situation is either dishonest or really dumb.

[AngusSteve]

Amen. I think people mistake not wanting to pay for or stand for government waste with being greedy or a specific political affiliation. I don't want to pay for broken programs that take take the easy way out and end up costing all of us tons of money in taxes. High taxes should offend everyone in every tax bracket.

[BENJORDON-]

Too late, Fallout Boy Phil.

It's out there.

You made 47 million last year batting a little white ball around in the grass.

Somehow the problems of the world seem a bit bigger than your tax rate.

.

[AngusSteve]

I'd love to make 47 million "batting" a ball. That's not the issue here. How much money Phil has left over after taxes is not the issue. How high our tax rate is in the US compared to what the benefits are is the issue.

[puppy43]

I used to admire Phil, but I a quickly have a change of heart. I believe all of the 2% that don't want to pay the taxes they owe in accordance with existing laws get the laws changed if they can. If they can't, certainly they can renounce their U.S. citizenship and move to another country. Those of us that stay can then have the country we want without their money influencing elections. We could then tell all of the other countries that we provide defense for that they would now be in charge of their own defense and we cou,ld cut our military budget to a level that we can afford. Let the countries that the 2% move to take care of their defense.

[marychgo]

What was offensive wasn't the FACT that Mickelson complained about his taxes; it was the fact that he either LIED or was profoundly STUPID about how much tax he'll actually pay! There's no way in the world he'll actually PAY 62% of what he earns; I'd be astonished if he EVER pays more than 50%. And if he DID pay 50% of the $45 million he earns, he'd STILL have $22.5 million to live on next year: more than Mitt Romney! Sorry, Phil, but I just can't force out a single crocodile tear for you!

[Boaparte]

One of the things that spoils golf for me is the contant presence of greedy bastard Republicans.Both men and woman.

[AmazingGrce]

You mean folks like OBAMA? He has been playing a lot of golf since he took office over 100 rounds. (His own people note that he has spent about 3 months of his term in getting to the course, playing and returning to paly his 100 rounds played by June 12, 2012)

Oh! No? How about Clinton 400 Rounds.

[AmazingGrce]

By the way how much in tax dollars is spent guarding the course the president plays on and getting him to and from the course. He probably pays his greens fees, (Well maybe he does) but the rest of the bill is certainly footed by taxpayers. So BOAPARTE - Your Prez is one of those greedy folks. Soaking up every perk he can as prez. No cutting back on expenses by this prez or his family.