Five-time Major Champion Phil Mickelson remains in serious doubt for this week’s Shell Houston Open and also next week’s Masters.
Mickelson is entered in the opening two round draw from the $US 6.2m Houston event starting Thursday on the Redstone Course in suburban Humble.
However the current World No. 5 advised officials today (TUES) he would not be available to compete in Wednesday’s Pro-Am.
The last time Phil Mickelson was seen on a golf course being driven by the PGA Tour’s ‘Slugger’ White and with Mickelson’s daughter Sophia on his lap after withdrawing through 10 holes of the Valero Texas Open.
The news comes soon after World No. 1 Tiger Woods shocked the golf world in announcing recent back surgery has forced him to withdraw from teeing up next week at Augusta National.
Mickelson had withdrawn after 10 holes on day three of last week’s Valero Texas Open in San Antonio citing an oblique muscle strain in his back.
He attended the San Antonio Spurs match against the New Orleans Pelicans later that night before returning home to San Diego for doctors to assess the injury.
It meant Mickelson missing out on playing planned practice rounds on Monday and today at Augusta National where he captured three of his five Majors.
But while Mickelson sought to play down the injury his remarks last Saturday to playing partner Stuart Appleby of Australia suggests the injury could be more serious.
“Phil had hit a few poor shots but it was the first hole of our back nine when I really noticed there was something wrong, as he just didn’t look right,” said Appleby.
“Then he sort of feathered one down the next and that was it.
“He then came over to John (Merrick) and myself and said: “Look guys. I think something’s going on in my back and I’m out of here.”
Mickelson also is expected to host a press conference ahead of competing in Houston and an event he captured by three strokes in 2011.
“We haven’t heard a word from Phil, so we don’t know whether he’s playing or not,” said a PGA Tour official.
“All we know at this stage is that we had a call saying he be excused from competing in the Pro Am.”
Mickelson has been drawn to play the opening two rounds in Houston alongside fellow Major Champions Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley.
Australia’s Scott Gardiner is on standby as first reserve.
