Phil Mickelson’s Mistreatment Continues as PGA’s Awkward Blunder Steals the Spotlight Days Before 106th Championship
14 past champions will tee up at Valhalla next week. But Phil Mickelson is not one of them. Not that he has pulled out, but Lefty’s name is a conspicuous absence in the past PGA Champions category on the official website. His LIV teammates, Martin Kaymer and Brooks Koepka, are listed as past champions, but not Phil Mickelson.
Lefty is the oldest major champion in the history of professional golf. And that came in the 2021 PGA Championship when the veteran fended off threats from Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen in a two-shot triumph. “Certainly, one of the moments I’ll cherish my entire life,” said the veteran, then just one month shy of turning 51. Mickelson, a two-time winner of the PGA Championship, has eight additional top-10s in his 30 appearances. Lefty was also runner-up twice in 2001 and again in 2014, which ironically was played in Valhalla. Last year, Phil Mickelson tied for the 51st spot.
Also ironic is that the six-time Major winner is in the field solely based on his past champion status. Last year, the 45-time PGA Tour winner was the 80th OWGR to enter the PGA Championship. This year, he has slipped to 158th. LIV Golfers don’t receive any OWGR points, and Greg Norman has withdrawn his application for world ranking points.
Interestingly, the name of the name of one other past champion, Jimmy Walker, is also missing. Walker won the PGA Championship in 2016. The six-time PGA Tour winner’s name is listed in the full field list available on the PGA Championship website. Additionally, Walker’s name was also there when the PGA released the 156-man field, as was Phil Mickelson’s mention of him as a former champion.
Lefty’s omission from the list indeed comes as a shocker. Notably, Phil Mickelson is also not on the interview schedule released by the PGA. Fans also complained of the backhanded treatment given by Augusta National a month ago at the Masters. The apparent blunder from the PGA just piles on top of that.
Phil Mickelson wasn’t included in the pre-Masters press conference
When ANGC released its press conference schedule, Phil Mickelson’s name was missing from the list of players. Ironically, the schedule included rookie Ludvig Aberg and, among other stars, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Jordan Spieth. But Mickelson’s opinions riled many fans, with some terming it an ‘absolute disgrace.’ Whereas some asked majors to move away from the politics that have gripped men’s professional golf for the last few years.
Mickelson, in a more recent interview, admitted he was a divisive figure. Recently, the veteran golfer fired a veiled attack on the PGA and other major organizers for not doing enough to include LIV golfers. This year, 16 LIV golfers will take part in the PGA Championship. The PGA sent an invitation to seven LIV golf pros, including Talor Gooch, for whom Mickelson batted last year. The 156-man field will also have Lucas Herbert, David Puig, and Joaquin Niemann. Mickelson’s HyFlyers teammate, Andy Ogletree, has also qualified for the second major of the season
