DUBLIN, Ohio: If golf star Phil Mickelson is concerned by a Federal probe into possible insider trading involving him, billionaire investor Carl Icahn and Las Vegas gambler William Walters, he did not show it yesterday.
As he hit a few practice balls before his round at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, Mickelson was in a light-hearted exchange with fellow American golfer Robert Garrigus.
“How’s it going, Phil?” asked Garrigus.
“It’s been an interesting evening,” Mickelson replied, adding with a laugh, “I don’t have much to say about it.”
Garrigus jokingly intimated that talking with Mickelson could get him into trouble, saying he was “not sure I want to talk to you now.”
On Friday night, a source familiar with the matter said the FBI and the US Securities and Exchange Commission were investigating possible insider trading involving Icahn, Mickelson and Walters.
Federal investigators are looking into whether Mickelson and Walters may have traded illegally on private information provided by Icahn about his investments in public corporations, the source told Reuters, confirming reports on Friday.
None of the three men has been accused of any wrongdoing, the source said.
Mickelson, 43, a three-times Masters champion, winner of 42 tournaments on the PGA Tour and one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, said in a statement issued through his manager early on Saturday: “I have done absolutely nothing wrong. I have cooperated with the government in this investigation and will continue to do so.”
He declined to elaborate with reporters after his round at the tournament yesterday, saying: “Hopefully shortly we will be able to discuss this further, but for right now I can’t.”
The Wall Street Journal cited Glenn Cohen, Mickelson’s lawyer, as saying the golf star was not a target of the federal probe.
There was plenty of support among fans at the tournament, with members of the crowd shouting: “Go Phil!” and “We’re here for you, Phil.”
Some fans, however, were dismayed at news of the probe.
“Phil is the everyman’s man, even though he’s mega-rich,” said David Hughes, of Los Angeles. “He shares his wealth with great causes, thrills thousands of fans almost every week and with all the wolves of Wall Street, they want to go after him? Give me a break.”
Icahn, an activist investor, told Reuters he was unaware of any investigation and said his firm always followed the law. He acknowledged a business relationship with Walters, but said he did not know Mickelson personally.
“I am very proud of my 50-year unblemished record and have never given out insider information,” Icahn said.
Walters and Mickelson play golf together, the source familiar with the investigation told Reuters.
Walters did not respond to requests for comment. Officials with the FBI and the SEC declined to comment.
Mickelson, a native of California who took up the game as a toddler, has piled up career earnings of more than $73m and considerably more via corporate endorsements and his golf course design company.
According to Forbes, he is seventh on its list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, second only to Tiger Woods among golfers. In the 12 months to July 2013, his total earnings were $48.7m, Forbes said.REUTERS
