Phil Mickelson will not play in the Masters in 2022
Phil Mickelson will not play in the 2022 Masters.
The three-time winner of the green jacket is on a sabbatical from golf following inflammatory comments about a proposed new Saudi Arabia-backed golf league.
Mickelson's name did not appear on the list of entrants posted on the Masters' website, instead listed under the heading of "Past Champions Not Playing." Golf Digest confirmed that Mickelson will not be playing in 2022.
Mickelson is on a self-imposed sabbatical after the February publication of an interview in which he indicated that he was using the Saudi-backed golf league as a way to exact concessions from, and vengeance against, the PGA Tour.
“They’re scary motherf—-ers to get involved with,” Mickelson said in the interview. “We know they killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates. They’ve been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse ... The Saudi money has finally given us that leverage. I’m not sure I even want [the SGL] to succeed, but just the idea of it is allowing us to get things done with the Tour.”
After Mickelson's comments drew the fury of the public as well as his competitors, Mickelson decided to step away from the sport for an undetermined period of time.
"I used words I sincerely regret that do not reflect my true feelings or intentions," Mickelson said in a statement. "It was reckless, I offended people, and I am deeply sorry for my choice of words. I’m beyond disappointed and will make every effort to self-reflect and learn from this."
Mickelson lost several sponsorship deals following his comments. This will mark the first Masters Mickelson has missed since 1994.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jaybusbee or contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com.
