The Loop

Was Phil Mickelson actually participating in a political fundraiser in New York?

August 06, 2014

What is wrong with this photo that accompanied a recent New York Daily News story on New York politicians using golf outings for fundraisers?

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The story in the New York Daily News is an amusing one, given that several politicians who have an aversion to golf or are otherwise uninterested in pursuing the game still use the sport to raise money. "This season, legislators and assorted Albany campaign committees are holding at least 21 golf fund-raisers," Annie Karni wrote.

The best part of the story is what Karni identified as the 22nd fundraiser, the case of State Senator Malcolm Smith. In March, Smith attempted to use a virtual golf outing to raise money. He was offering three levels of contributions, the highest being $500 for a foursome/sponsor. No golf, or anything else, as far as we can tell, was actually involved. Participants simply wrote a check to "MalcolmSmithForNewYork."

So, back to the photo. It shows Phil Mickelson at Bethpage Black with caddie Jim Mackay standing nearby. So what is Mickelson doing participating in a political fundraiser? He wasn't. He is playing his second shot at Bethpage Black's fourth hole in the final round of the Barclays in 2012, according to the caption provided with the photo at Getty Images.

For some odd reason, this was the photo chosen to accompany the story, presumably because a story involving golf needed a golf photo and apparently any would suffice.