Golfer Phil Mickelson likely will not "take a hit with his fans or his corporate sponsors" after being named by the SEC Thursday in a federal insider trading lawsuit, according to Roxanna Scott of USA TODAY. Baker Street Advertising Senior VP & Exec Creative Dir Bob Dorfman said, "Given that it seems he was an unknowing accomplice to all of this and wasn't knowingly breaking the law, I don't see it as affecting his marketability. I suppose if you're a prospective sponsor, you might want to take a flier for a little bit and wait and see how this all plays out." Mickelson's sponsors include Amgen, Barclays, Rolex, Callaway, KPMG and ExxonMobil, among others. He joined Callaway in '04, and Callaway Dir of Global Communications Scott Goryl in a statement noted the reports "do not involve Callaway and thus we have no comment." He added the company has had a "long-standing partnership with Phil and value our relationship with him." Scott notes KPMG also "stood by him, saying in a statement that it had a long and meaningful relationship with Mickelson" (USA TODAY, 5/20). In San Diego, Dan McSwain in a front-page piece notes Mickelson's corporate advertisers "have judged" that for now he "offers a return on their investments." This could "change quickly" if a trial involving gambler Billy Walters -- who authorities say told Mickelson to buy shares of Dean Foods before the company announced strong earnings -- "throws more dirt on that $50-million-dollar image" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/20). Golf Channel.com’s Will Gray noted Mickelson is "still a fan favorite," and this is unlikely to "have a huge impact on his popularity among fans." Gray: "This finding and this lawsuit, I think it will become a footnote in Mickelson’s legacy. But it will be far from the biggest thing that we think about when we look at Phil Mickelson as a golfer over his entire career” (“Today,” NBC, 5/20).
SHOULD NOT BE A TOTAL SURPRISE: CNBC's Jane Wells notes the SEC charge "first popped up a couple years ago," so Mickelson's sponsors "knew this was swirling out there." Ironically, KPMG "had its own insider trading scandal a couple years ago, and some wondered at the time if Phil Mickelson might drop them." That did not happen, as KPMG remains on the front of Mickelson's cap ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 5/20).
NO IMPACT ON NEW ROLE: Desert Classic Charities President John Foster said that the SEC's charge against Mickelson will "have no impact" on his new position as ambassador for the CareerBuilder Challenge PGA Tour event. Foster: "This is something that is in the past and that's it. ... It's a 2012 deal and it is settled. Obviously when you are dealing with someone like Phil, these things come back." In California, Larry Bohannan notes Mickelson will "be the face" of the CareerBuilder Challenge and will "represent the tournament at various functions." Tournament officials also "hope Mickelson's influence may be able to help strengthen the tournament's professional field" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 5/20).
