The PGA of America announced Friday afternoon that Mickelson will not play in the major championship next week at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla.
announced Friday afternoon“We have just been informed that Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the PGA Championship,” the statement read.
“Phil is the defending champion and currently eligible to be a PGA Life Member and we would have welcomed him to participate. We wish Phil and Amy the very best and look forward to his return to golf.”, and then making remarks downplaying human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia, whose government is backing a controversial upstart golf series competing with the PGA Tour.. “We know they killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights.
“Totally a personal decision for Phil,” Nantz said. “I’m not going to make any public advisements, but he will be back. Sometimes we get caught in the cyclone of a story and we think it will be forever. It won’t be forever. He’ll be back. “Of course, his age is a factor in how much he’ll be able to compete at a high level, but that’s what they said a year ago. He’ll be back. He’ll play. He’s got a ton of fans out there. This is a forgiving nation. There’s a million examples of people who have been somehow able to find their way back to be on top again. I fully expect he will.”