Phil Mickelson vows to be more responsible for the company he keeps after insider trading inquiry

DUBLIN, Ohio — Phil Mickelson said he was disappointed to get caught up in a federal investigation that linked him to an insider trader scheme and that he needed to be more responsible for the company he keeps off the golf course.

“I feel excited to start playing golf again,” he said Wednesday. “I feel excited to have that part behind me and move forward.”

It was his first public appearance since Mickelson was named in a federal complaint that accused Las Vegas gambler Bill Walters and Thomas Davis, a former corporate board member of Dean Foods Co., of making tens of millions of dollars in illicit stock trades.

Mickelson was spared criminal charges. The Securities and Exchange Commissioner alleges he benefited only from the misdeeds of others. Mickelson agreed to repay the $931,000 (plus interest) he made in a single trade of Dean Foods in summer 2012.

“I’m disappointed to have been a part of that whole thing,” he said. “But after a thorough investigation, I’m pleased that it’s behind me. … I’m glad it’s over and it’s in the past. Ready to move on.”

Still to be determined was any action by the PGA Tour.

The tour in its player handbook has a section under “Conduct of Players” that says a player shall not “associate with or have dealings with persons whose activities, including gambling, might reflect adversely upon the integrity of the game of golf.”

Spokesman Ty Votaw had said May 19 when the indictment was announced that the tour was looking into it.

Mickelson said he had yet to meet with the tour and wasn’t sure if he faced any punishment.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem would not discuss Mickelson’s case except to say that he had not spoken with the five-time major champion yet.