Phil Mickelson hopes to be able to defend his title in the Waste Management Phoenix Open next week after withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open on Friday night because of muscle pain in his back.
The 43-year-old Mickelson struggled with his back through two rounds at Torrey Pines, shooting 69-73, and was tied for 32nd before pulling out of his hometown event, which he has won three times.
“I love this tournament and I want to play here,” Lefty said after his second round. “I love playing in San Diego and this is a place where I grew up playing, so I really want to play. And part of me also says that I’m getting in bad habits. And if I hit it in this rough here, I’ve really got an issue, because I’ve got to swing awfully hard to get it out, and it jars it. So I’m a little torn right now on the best plan of action.
” … I have the entire year. I’ve got majors coming up. I’ve got other tournaments coming up and I don’t want to get in bad habits. My game is pretty sharp getting ready to start the year and I could tell I’m making terrible swings out there relative to the way I’ve been swinging.”
Mickelson’s publicist, T.R. Reinman, confirmed that he was withdrawing and would consult with doctors about when he might play again.
Lefty’s biggest tournament this year will be the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where a victory would make him the sixth player to complete the modern Career Grand Slam. The others are Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
