Phil Mickelson's absence from PGA Championship 'sad' and 'unfortunate,' says world No. 7-ranked Rory McIlroy, other top golfers

TULSA — Rory McIlroy described Phil Mickelson's absence from the 2022 PGA Championship as «unfortunate» and «sad» Tuesday morning at Southern Hills Country Club and said he wished the defending champion had made a different decision and come to the championship.

«This should be a celebration, right?» McIlroy said. «He won a major championship at 50 years old. It was possibly his last big, big moment in the game of golf. I think he should be here this week and celebrating what a monumental achievement he achieved last year.»

McIlroy paused as he weighed how his words would be received.

«It's unfortunate,» he said. «It's sad. Yeah, I don't know what else I can say.»

Mickelson became golf's oldest major champion by winning the PGA at Kiawah Island in South Carolina at age 50 last year. He hasn't played on the PGA Tour since missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. He skipped the Masters in April for the first time in 27 years and has played in every PGA Championship since 1992, winning twice.

Mickelson said, in a February statement, he is taking time away from golf after his controversial comments about the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian financiers of a breakaway circuit were published in an unauthorized autobiography by author Alan Shipnuck, which was released this week.

Mickelson, popularly known as «Lefty,» criticized the PGA Tour for its «greed» and said he was looking past the Saudi Arabian monarchy's alleged human rights violations to gain leverage with the tour.

Spain's Jon Rahm, who played at Arizona State like Mickelson, said he wished the six-time major champion was here.

«Phil has got to do what Phil has got to do,» Rahm said. «He's a good friend of mine. I can't remember the