Phil Mickelson will not defend his historic PGA Championship title next week in Southern Hills.
The PGA 2021 champion, who has not played competitively for more than three months and is in exile due to explosive and controversial comments he made about the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed league tour, withdrew from the 104th PGA Championship on Friday. of America ads.
“We have just been informed that Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the PGA Championship,” the PGA said in a statement. “Phil is the defending champion and is currently eligible to be a member of PGA Life and we would welcome him to participate. We wish Phil and [wife] Amy is the best and I look forward to his return to golf. ”
Mickelson, who has won six major championships, including three Masters and two PGAs, withdrew from the Masters last month. This was the first time he had not played for Augusta since 1994.
Last year on the island of Kiava, he became the oldest major golf champion, winning at the age of 50.
Mickelson has not played in the PGA Tour since missing the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January and last played at Saudi International in February.
After golf writer Alan Shipnook, who is writing a biography of Mickelson, published harsh comments from Mickelson, who said it was a personal conversation, the 51-year-old Mickelson issued an apology saying he would spend some time playing.
What followed were longtime sponsors Amstel Light, KPMG and Workday, who ended their relationship with him. Callaway, who signed a contract with Mickelson in 2017 until the end of his playing career, “paused” his relationship with him.
PGA CEO Seth Waugh, in a recent interview with the 5 Clubs podcast, commented that Mickelson may have endured a PGA Tour-sanctioned removal ban when Woo spoke about Mickelson moving away from a press conference. before it explodes. it will happen again if he decides to play next week.
“The idea is that if he plays and if he can and is allowed to, he will certainly have to face the media,” said Woo. “But I hope it’s Monday or Tuesday. What we’re trying to do is secure a big championship, not a circus. “
Woo’s “if he’s allowed to comment” raised questions that he might know something the rest of us don’t.
The PGA of America and the PGA Tour are separate governing bodies, but Waugh and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan are close and very consistent in their policies.
Woo revealed that he had conversations with Mickelson and said: “I think he’s trying to figure out when is the right time for him. I think the game is trying to find the right moment for him. How long is enough? ”
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