May 31, 2014 -- Updated 2113 GMT (0513 HKT)
Five-time major champion Phil Mickelson denies involvement in an alleged
insider trading fraud Saturday, saying he is fully co-operating with
FBI agents. FULL STORY
Phil Mickelson: I have done nothing wrong
May 31, 2014 -- Updated 2307 GMT (0707 HKT)
Phil Mickelson shot a level par 72 third round at the Memorial to trail the leaders.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Phil Mickelson denies wrongdoing in insider trading probe
- Five-time major champion says he's co-operating with FBI
- Mickelson playing in prestigious Memorial tournament in Ohio
- Bubba Watson leads the tournament on 12-under-par
Follow us at @WorldSportCNN and like us on Facebook
(CNN) -- Five-time major champion Phil Mickelson
denied involvement in an alleged insider trading fraud Saturday, saying
he is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Mickelson, who is playing
in the Memorial tournament in Ohio, spoke to gathered reporters after a
third round 72 to leave him way off the pace on two-under 214.
"I have done absolutely
nothing wrong," said the 43-year-old American. "That's why I'm fully
cooperating in every way I can and will continue to do so."
Mickelson wins thriller at Muirfield
'Lefty' to enter golf's Hall of Fame
Mickelson revels in British Open win
Secret behind the 'Bubba Long'
His comments mirrored an earlier statement released Saturday to CNN by his agent.
"I wish I could fully discuss this matter, but under the current circumstances it's just not possible," he added.
The FBI probe is
examining stock trades by Mickelson, investor Carl Icahn and a
well-known Las Vegas gambler, Billy Walters, law enforcement sources
told CNN.
It centers around trades
made three years ago after Icahn made an investment in Clorox (CLX,
Fortune 500), according to the sources, who are not authorized to speak
publicly about the case.
Icahn bought shares in Clorox and later announced a takeover bid for the company, causing shares to rise significantly.
According to reports in
the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, the FBI and the Securities
and Exchange Commission are investigating whether Icahn tipped off
Walters and Mickelson about the investment plans.
Mickelson said FBI
agents had approached him after his first round Thursday, but he had
decided to continue playing in the final warmup event before the U.S.
Open at Pinehurst later this month.
"I think that as a
player you have to be able to block out whatever is going on off the
golf course and be able to focus on the golf course, and it's not going
to change the way I carry myself," he said.
"I'm not going to walk around any other way."
Mickelson is one of the
most popular golfers in the world and he was acclaimed after his superb
victory last year at the British Open.
Only a victory in the
U.S. Open eludes him to complete his set of the four majors, but he has
been in indifferent form in 2014 without a top 10 finish on the PGA
Tour.
By contrast, Masters champion Bubba Watson is enjoying the best season of his career and led the tournament by a shot going into the final round.
He shot a three-under 69 for 12-under 204 with unheralded Scott Langley his nearest challenger.
Watson is bidding for
his third win over the season but will face a likely strong challenge
from Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who was two shots behind with world
number one Adam Scott three back.
Overnight leader Paul Casey of England fell back with a 78 to be in a group tied on eight-under which included Jordan Spieth.
World Sport Top Stories
- Tennis: Nadal cruise as rival struggles
- Football: Torres gets nod from Spain
- Motorsport: Rossi regrets tire choice
- Tennis: Gulbis comments cause stir
-
NBA: $2B deal to sell Clippers
|
Sterling to fight sale
- NBA: Mexico and UK get games
- Football: Malcolm Glazer dies
- Golf: Woods out of U.S. Open
- Football: Spurs appoint Pochettino
- COPY http://edition.cnn.com
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário