This year will be a career first for Phil Mickelson after he decided not to tee up in the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
For the first year since 2009, and only the second time in his professional career, Phil Mickelson will not compete in the Open Championship.
The 2013 Champion Golfer has not made an official announcement about his withdrawal, but he has been removed from the field on the tournament’s official website.
Mickelson has only played once this year – the LIV Golf event in South Africa – as he continues to take time away from the game due to an “ongoing family health issue”.
In recent weeks, the 56-year-old has been subject to a number of headlines regarding his private life. He recently had his long-time membership of The Farms – a prestigious golf club near his San Diego home – revoked after accusations from a female employee about “inappropriate” behavior.
Journalist Alan Shipnuck has since reported a number of transgressions from Mickelson’s personal life, including an incident that involved the six-time major champion showing a nude photo of himself to fellow golfer Pat Perez’s then wife, Ashley.
It will also mark an unwanted milestone for Mickelson.
The left-hander, who lifted the Claret Jug at Muirfield in 2013 and is exempt until the 2030 Open, also missed this year’s Masters, PGA Championship and US Open – meaning this will the first time since 1990 that he has not played in at least one of golf’s four majors in a single season.
He pulled out of the 2009 Open to support his wife, Amy, through cancer treatment.