Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio because of a pulled oblique muscle after 10 holes of the third round.
Mickelson, who does not have a top-10 finish in eight starts on the PGA Tour this season, was at 1-over-par for the day and 4-over for the tournament at the time.
After making the cut on the number at 77-70 — 147 by sinking a five-foot birdie putt on the final hole following a remarkable recovery shot from the edge of a creek at greenside on Friday, he was in danger of missing the secondary cut when he withdrew.
“He hit a driver real hard on the 10th hole and felt something,” said his caddie, Bones Mackay, who added the Mickelson would go home to San Diego but still hoped to play next week in the Shell Houston Open.
“He finished the hole, but could still feel it and thought he better not take a chance with (the Masters) coming up in the next couple weeks.
“In a perfect world, he plays in Houston. He loves the course and loves the city, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
Mickelson was playing for the first time in three weeks, since he tied for 16th in the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
