Phil Mickelson underwent a second surgery for a sports hernia, putting the start of his 2017 schedule in question.
Mickelson’s first surgery came three days after he tied for eighth in the Safeway Open at Silverado in Napa, Calif., to kick off the 2016-17 PGA Tour season.
Lefty committed to play in the CareerBuilder Challenge on Jan. 19-22 in Palm Desert, where he usually starts his season, and his management team said he will be there, “at least in his role as tournament ambassador.”
The 46-year-old Mickelson usually starts his season in the California Desert tournament, which won in 2002 and 2004.
Then he plays the Farmers in Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, his hometown event in which he has claimed three titles, followed by the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he has won three more times and is a fan favorite since he attended Arizona State.
After the first surgery, Lefty said a walnut-sized hernia behind his belly button was removed, but apparently he had a recurrence of the injury.
Mickelson has 42 PGA Tour titles, including five majors, but has not won since the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield. However, he has finished second in a major in each of the last three years.
