PGA Championship 2022: Phil Mickelson withdraws from Southern Hills as his sabbatical from golf continues | Golf News and Tour Information
Phil Mickelson has dropped out of up coming week’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills, continuing his sabbatical from golfing.
The PGA of America declared the decision was Mickelson’s, and in a statement mentioned “we would have welcomed him to take part.”
The announcement is somewhat of a surprise as Mickelson, 51, is the reigning PGA champ. Nonetheless, subsequent the Hearth Pit Collective’s February publication of an interview done very last November—in which Mickelson said he was using a Saudi-backed golf circuit as leverage in opposition to the PGA Tour and claimed he had compensated attorneys to draw up the league’s operating charter—Mickelson has remained out of the public’s eye.
“The earlier 10 yrs I have felt the stress and tension bit by bit impacting me at a deeper degree,” Mickelson claimed in a Feb. 22 assertion, acknowledging his “reckless” comments. “I know I have not been my very best and desperately have to have some time away to prioritize the kinds I like most and function on staying the gentleman I want to be.”
That furlough will now change what must have been a ceremonial victory lap at Southern Hills.
In April, Mickelson skipped his initial Masters—a match he’s received 3 times—since 1994. His very last time competing in the United States was in January at his hometown event the Farmers Insurance policies Open at Torrey Pines, although his previous world-wide visual appeal was at the Saudi Intercontinental in February.
Mickelson’s agent has formerly mentioned Mickelson registered for the PGA Championship but was uncertain his consumer would contend. Mickelson’s agent also acknowledged Mickelson experienced asked for a release for the inaugural LIV Golfing sequence event in London as properly as the U.S. Open up. Previously this 7 days the PGA Tour denied all conflicting-occasion releases to its users, this means if Mickelson decides to perform in the LIV Golfing event he faces opportunity disciplinary motion from the tour.
Mickelson’s selection to skip Southern Hills is the to start with time a PGA winner has not defended his title considering that 2008. Personal injury prevented Tiger Woods, who had gained the prior two PGA Championships in 2006 and 2007, from competing for the Wanamaker Trophy at Oakland Hills. The previous participant to have not defended any key was Rory McIroy missing the 2015 Open up Championship thanks to an personal injury.
