Phil Mickelson misses the Masters, Augusta’s flagship, for the first time since 1994. The 51-year-old American and six-time winner was highly critical of the organization of the US PGA Tour last month. However, Mickelson soon regretted his harsh words and then decided to take a break for a while.
The American is now missing from the Masters entry list, April 7-10 in Augusta. Mickelson won the infamous green jacket in the Major League Championships domestically in 2004, 2006 and 2010. Last year, the American won for the second time in the PGA Championship, making him the biggest major winner ever. Mickelson also won the British Open once in his career.
Mickelson recently accused the PGA Tour of “unpleasant greed” because the tour organizers own nearly all of the media rights, including photos of the golfers. And the American threatened to move to a new round of golf, which would have to be held with the help of investors from Saudi Arabia. Speak harshly about the Saudis. We know that they killed Jamal Khashoggi and that they are in a poor position on human rights. They execute people because they are gay. Knowing all this, why should I think about it? Because this is a one-time opportunity to change the way the PGA Tour operates.”
Mickelson quickly regretted it and said in a wide message on Instagram that his comments were “reckless”. “I need some time with the ones I love the most in my life and work on becoming the man I want to be.” Michelson also wrote that over the past decade, he’s been under increasing stress and tension.
The American has not been in any business since the end of January. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan declined to say if Mickelson had been suspended. “He took a break on his own and asked for time. We give him that time,” Monahan says. We don’t respond to disciplinary issues, potential issues, and current issues. But every golfer is responsible for his actions.”
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