Phil Mickelson, who has been on the sidelines of the public sphere since his inflammatory remarks on the rival Saudi-funded PGA golf tour, has decided not to play the Masters in 2022.
Posted at 8:49 p.m.
Mickelson’s name was moved from the list of golfers scheduled to compete in the tournament to a section at the bottom of the table titled “former champions not playing.”
Augusta National executives confirmed that Mickelson has notified them that he will not be participating in the tournament, which will be held April 7-10.
It will be the first time Mickelson has been absent from the Masters since 1994, when he was recovering from a broken leg from a skiing accident.
Mickelson won the Masters Tournament for the first time in his career in 2004. The silhouette of the left-handed golfer, leaping into the air after landing a birdie on the 18and green to win the tournament, has become his personal logo.
Mickelson also won the Masters Tournament in 2006 and 2010. Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus are the only golfers to have worn the Green Jacket more often than him.
Last year, at age 50, Mickelson became the oldest golfer to win one of four Grand Slams when he emerged victorious at the PGA Championship.
Mickelson was at the Saudi Invitational tournament, an event sanctioned by the Asian Golf Tour, when he accused the PGA Tour, in an interview with Golf Digest, of “abhorrent greed.”
Separately, he told journalist Alan Shipnuck, author of a biography on Mickelson, that it was worth doing business with the Saudis, despite a history of human rights abuses, if it could create change. within the PGA.
“We know they killed (Washington Post reporter Jamal) Khashoggi and they have terrible human rights precedents,” he said. They execute people for being gay.
“Knowing all that, why would I even think about it?” Because it’s a unique opportunity to reshape how the PGA works. »
The interview took place last November. Mickelson apologized for his comments, which he called “reckless.” He also claimed that these were confidential remarks. Shipnuck said they weren’t.
Mickelson, who has lost numerous sponsors since the incident, has not played since Saudi International on Feb. 6. In a statement, he admitted he “desperately needs” to get away (from golf) to get his priorities straight.
During the recent Players Championship, commissioner Jay Monahan said he hadn’t spoken with Mickelson, and was looking forward to having a conversation with him when Mickelson is ready to call him.