BREAKING: Phil Mickelson Withdraws, Will Not Defend PGA Championship

It seems that the drama surrounding fan favorite and defending PGA Champion Phil Mickelson isn’t done. 

Only days after the PGA TOUR confirmed that it would be denying numerous player requests that sought leave to play in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational event, Phil Mickelson—one of the LIV posterboys who wishes he could take back a few of his recent comments—unexpectedly announced that he would be withdrawing from the PGA Championship, being hosted by Southern Hills Country Club (Tulsa, Oklahoma) during May 19th to 22nd.

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— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 13, 2022

Phil’s withdrawal is quite perplexing after, on May 9th, it was announced Tiger Woods and Phil were both listed in the field, both of whom had been sighted on courses gearing up for 2022 second Major.

Naturally, Phil’s withdrawal—coming on Friday the 13th (cue the Twilight Zone music)—raises numerous questions:  is he ready?  is he getting black-listed by the PGA TOUR and Commissioner Jay Monahan?  will he ever play on the TOUR again?  

Regardless of the why, I know that I can only hope that we will get to see Phil back on the TOUR again soon and, ideally, competing alongside Tiger at least one more time in a Major before the two of them take the next steps in their careers.