Mickelson says he won’t be called as witness in trial

Phil Mickelson takes a drop from a hazard on the second hole during round-robin play against Si Woo Kim, of South Korea, at the Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament at Austin County Club, Wednesday, March 22, 2017, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Phil Mickelson takes a drop from a hazard on the second hole during round-robin play against Si Woo Kim, of South Korea, at the Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament at Austin County Club, Wednesday, March 22, 2017, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

By Associated Press March 22, 2017 3 min read

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – While his name has been mentioned as a pivotal figure in a federal insider trading criminal trial, Phil Mickelson shrugged off any hint that will be hanging over him this week or in the run up to The Masters next month – both with his play and his comments.

“I’m not a part of that,” Mickelson said after easily winning his first-round match Wednesday at the Dell Technologies Match Play. “It’s not even a thought.”

But prosecutors and defense attorneys for gambler William “Billy” Walters have said Mickelson would be a key figure in the trial in New York, and the judge hinted to jurors last week the five-time major champion could be called to testify.

Mickelson said that won’t happen.

“I’m out. I won’t be called,” Mickelson said, without saying how he knows that.