‘He’s a Complicated Guy’: PGA CEO on Phil Mickelson

There are only a couple of weeks left before the second major of the year, the PGA Championship, takes place. However, it is still unknown whether the defending champion will be attending the event or not. Being part of the PGA Tour for so many years, Phil Mickelson is a household name on the Tour. However, here is what the PGA CEO thinks has led him into the complicated situation he finds himself in currently. 

“I have known Phil for 20-something years,” Waugh said, as he described his relationship with Phil Mickelson. He talked about the upcoming PGA Championship and the decision of the PGA on whether or not to allow Mickelson to play at the PGA Championship in the podcast ‘Five Clubs.’ 

“He’s (Phil) a complicated guy with complicated thoughts,” Waugh further added. “And in a complicated situation.” 

Mickelson invited trouble for himself when he spoke in favor of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, and against the PGA Tour. In the beginning, he had accused the PGA Tour and its officials of being “obnoxiously greedy.”

Later on, the golfer got into trouble after his controversial comments about the authority of the Saudi Series and the PGA Tour were published online by Alan Shipnuck. Following the same, he took a sabbatical from the game and hasn’t played in any event since February 2022.

Read more: Has Phil Mickelson Ever Been Ranked World #1 in Golf?

However, he has registered to be a part of the PGA Championship now. According to the CEO of the PGA, the golfer and the PGA authorities are still in the conversation as to whether to let him play or not. 

Notably, Mickelson has also applied for a release from the Tour to play at the upcoming LIV Golf Series as well.

What is keeping Phil Mickelson from attending the PGA Championship? 

Mickelson had been out of the spotlight since February and the media will be having a lot of questions not necessarily related to golf when he returns. And that is a huge concern for the PGA authorities. “What we’re trying to do is deliver a major championship, not a circus,” Waugh stated. 

He explained that the authorities will try to let Mickelson meet with the media before the event if he is allowed to play there so that the conversations will be only golf-related once the tournament begins. “I would hope that he can avoid that,” Waugh added. “And everybody can avoid that.” 

Do you think the authorities will let the 6-time major winner play at the upcoming major to defend his title? Let us know your thoughts!

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