KPMG's U.S. firm has severed its longtime relationship with champion golfer Phil Mickelson after he was quoted making comments about the PGA Tour, a rival golf league sponsored by Saudi Arabia, and slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“KPMG U.S. and Phil Mickelson have mutually agreed to end our sponsorship effective immediately,” said KPMG's company-issued statement. “We wish him the best.”

When it comes to his payments from the audit company, the exact amount paid to the defending PGA Champion cannot be ascertained for sure. However, Forbes once revealed that the golfer was paid a handsome amount of $30 million every year by KPMG and Callaway combined.

Callaway has supplied Mickelson's clubs since 2004, most recently signing an extension in 2017 which was said to cover the rest of the veteran star's playing career. Callaway's deal is one of Mickelson's most lucrative contracts, contributing to an annual sponsorship income of US$42 million, according to Sportico.

Pro golfer Phil Mickelson faces backlash for comments about Saudi-backed golf league. The championship golfer was dropped by longtime sponsor KPMG. Professional golfer Phil Mickelson has apologized for comments he made supporting a Saudi Arabia-backed golf tour, after they appeared to cost him one his biggest sponsors.

- Just five minutes before a player meeting began at the Honda Classic, Phil Mickelson addressed unflattering comments about the PGA Tour and others associated with the proposed Saudi Arabia-backed, Greg Norman-led Super Golf League that would siphon off some of the game's biggest stars and rival the PGA Tour.

Mickelson was first suspended on March 22 for recruiting players to LIV Golf. The lawsuit, filed by 11 LIV Golf players against the PGA Tour, seeks to have the suspensions lifted.

Workday and Callaway joined KPMG and Heineken/Amstel in dropping Mickelson, 51, after he released a statement Tuesday afternoon acknowledging the comments he made in a November interview to golf writer Alan Shipnuck were “reckless.” Mickelson said he would be taking “some time away to prioritize the ones I love most ...

Mickelson has earned more than $1 billion from prize money and sponsors, but taxes and expenses keep his net worth just below the three-comma club.

As for his net worth, the publication notes that Mickelson is worth $400 million, with most of his money coming from endorsements and sponsorships. He has also worked with Callaway Golf Company, Barclays, KPMG, Exxon Mobil, Rolex and Amgen on commercial deals.

Amstel, KPMG and Workday all dropped Phil Mickelson in February over his explosive comments defending LIV Golf's financing despite the Saudi Arabian government's human rights record. Callaway put its sponsorship of Mickelson on pause to be re-evaluated at a further date.

And, for what it's worth, he won four of his first six starts on the PGA Champions Tour. But then comes Phil's statement or half apology. And it's actually in the apology that Mickelson opens the door to lose the roughly all of the $40 million in annual endorsements.