Phil Mickelson Taxes: Golfer To Make 'Drastic Changes' After Federal And California State Tax Increases

Mickelson, a California native, told reporters after the final round of the Humana Challenge that “it’s been an interesting offseason.”

“I'm going to have to make some drastic changes. I'm not going to jump the gun and do it right away, but I will be making some drastic changes," the 42-year-old PGA golfer said.

While speaking vaguely on his situation, Mickelson said he was thinking about moving away from California or even retiring from golf.

"I'm not sure what exactly, you know, I'm going to do yet," Mickelson said. "I'll probably talk about it more in depth next week. I'm not going to jump the gun, but there are going to be some. There are going to be some drastic changes for me because I happen to be in that zone that has been targeted both federally and by the state and, you know, it doesn't work for me right now. So I'm going to have to make some changes."

In November, California voters approved Proposition 30, the first statewide tax increase since 2004. Mickelson lives in Rancho Santa Fe.

"If you add up all the federal and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the Social Security and the state, my tax rate's 62, 63 percent," Mickelson said. "So I've got to make some decisions on what I'm going to do."

Before his hometown Farmers Insurance Open, the San Diego-area event that starts Thursday at Torrey Pines, reporters asked the 2010 Master’s champion if there was a correlation between the tax increases and what happened to the San Diego Padres deal that he was reportedly involved in.

Last year, Mickelson flirted with becoming a part owner of the San Diego Padres franchise, which was sold for $800 million in August.

"Absolutely," Mickelson said.

He later explained why he was waiting to provide more details.

"I'll probably be in the media center and I'll probably be a little more open to it because San Diego is where a lot more things, it's where I live, it's where the Padre thing was a possibility, and it's where my family is," Mickelson said. "And it just seems like a better fit than right here off of 18 on Palm Springs."

Mickelson finished out with a 66 on Sunday to tie for 37th at 17 under in his season debut.

"I was rusty starting the year," Mickelson said. "I had a great four days here where I can work on my game with perfect weather and wonderful golf courses, where I could build some momentum. Heading into San Diego, I feel a lot more confident."

The tournament was his first since the HSBC Championship in early November in China.

The Hall of Famer has 40 PGA Tour victories.