Phil Mickelson has 'gone dark' during break, says Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau says close friend Phil Mickelson has “gone dark” since deciding to take a break from golf after finding himself shrouded in controversy.

Three-time winner Mickelson is sitting out The Masters for the first time in 28 years after stepping away from the game following remarks about the PGA Tour and a Saudi-backed Super League being fronted by Greg Norman.

In his first press conference since August outside of the Ryder Cup, DeChambeau was asked if he’d been in touch with three-time Masters winner and current US PGA champion Mickelson.

“I've tried to reach out, but he's gone dark,” said the Californian. “There's no contact.”

DeChambeau had been missing himself for nearly two months as he recovered from a fractured hamate bone in his left hand and a torn labrum in his left hip.

“I'm probably around 80 per cent right now,” he said in delivering a fitness update ahead of the season’s opening major, which starts on Thursday.

“I can't go all-out. I can't do any speed training sessions. I can't practice for excessive hours like I have to figure stuff out.”

Looking on the positive side, he added: “It's also allowed me to become a little smarter in how I practice.

“Like I've got to be careful with things and really be efficient and limit the amount of golf balls I can hit.

“Today was the first time I can just go and hit golf balls for a long period of time and just get really comfortable and dialed in, so I feel pretty nice and comfortable going into this week so far.”

DeChambeau said heading into the 2020 event that he felt the par at Augusta National for him was 67 due to his length off the tee, yet he’s not managed to finish in the top 20 in his five appearances to date.

Assessing his chances of claiming a Green