During the Masters in April, the CBS broadcast crew rarely, if ever, mentioned the absence of three-time champion Phil Mickelson.
Out of sight, out of mind? Mickelson’s personal leave of absence didn’t go unnoticed. He’s a larger-than-life figure in the game and the support of his adoring fans was never more evident than when a scene out of a Lollapalooza concert practically lifted him to victory at the ripe age of 50 at the 2021 PGA Championship in Kiawah.
On the verge of the 104th PGA Championship, a mere seven days until Mickelson’s title defense begins at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it’s still unclear whether he will play, and, if he will address the media. Mickelson has ghosted the world since February 22 when he issued a statement that he was in desperate need of some time away to “prioritize the ones I love most and work on being the man I want to be.”
