Phil Mickelson took aim at California Attorney General Rob Bonta this week, blasting the state official over California’s energy policies and an ongoing legal fight tied to oil production.
“The epitome of incompetent leadership right here,” Mickelson wrote Monday on X in response to Bonta’s effort to block a Trump administration order tied to California oil pipelines.
The former PGA Tour star criticized what he sees as the broader consequences of California’s approach to energy regulation, pointing to high fuel costs and reliance on foreign oil imports.
“No more oil from the Middle East, skyrocketing gas prices, highest gas tax in the nation, jet fuel shortage, national security threat from CA’s policies, and marine life destruction from the largest natural seepage in the world,” Mickelson posted.
The comments came after Bonta announced California was seeking a preliminary injunction against the federal government and Sable Offshore Corp. over the restart of two onshore oil pipelines in Santa Barbara County. According to Bonta, the Trump administration unlawfully bypassed state oversight when it approved the restart of the pipelines.
“California isn’t going to sit back and watch while the federal government and oil industry override critical protections. We will continue to fight back,” Bonta said in a statement.
At the center of the dispute is an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that allowed Sable Offshore to resume operations on pipelines that had been shut down following a major oil spill years ago. State officials argue the restart threatens environmental protections and undermines California’s regulatory authority.
The legal battle has been building for months. California previously sued over the pipeline restart, and a judge later imposed an injunction halting continued operations along with an $18 million fine against Sable Offshore. The company has continued pushing back, arguing federal approval should supersede certain state restrictions.
Mickelson sided firmly against California officials, accusing the state of blocking efforts that could strengthen domestic energy production.
“This is equivalent to the guy drowning trying to drown the guy saving him,” he added in another post.
While Mickelson largely stayed away from politics during most of his Hall of Fame golf career, he has become more outspoken in recent years, particularly on social media. The six-time major champion, who later joined LIV Golf after decades on the PGA Tour, has increasingly weighed in on political and cultural issues.
Earlier this year, Mickelson also drew attention for criticizing Democrats over immigration and election-related issues in California.
“The dilemma for all Democrats is if you stop the fraud, illegal immigration, and voter fraud in CA, then Republicans win CA and have a huge majority throughout the country. The Democrat party all but ends,” he wrote in January.
Mickelson, a California native and one of golf’s most recognizable figures, remains a polarizing presence both inside and outside the sport. His latest comments are likely to fuel even more debate around California’s energy policies, environmental regulations, and the growing political divide surrounding domestic oil production.
