Mickelson pulls out of BMW Championship

2007-09-04

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By Andrew Both PA SportsTicker Golf Writer

LEMONT, Illinois (Ticker) - Phil Mickelson pulled out of the BMW Championship on Tuesday.

"This decision was not an easy one to make and in no way is meant as disrespectful to the tour, or sending a message to anyone," Mickelson said in a statement.

"I've talked for weeks about needing to find a balance between my game, my business affairs and my family, and now is the time for me to take some time off."

Mickelson's withdrawal was perhaps the worst kept secret on tour.

After winning the Deutsche Bank Championship, near Boston, on Monday, he said he was undecided about the BMW, although it is hard to believe he had not already made up his mind.

Instead, he waited another 18 hours before making the official announcement on a day when he was in the Chicago area for a corporate outing.

The BMW is the third event in the U.S. PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoff series.

"I'm a little surprised," said tournament director John Kaczkowski, who added that the tour needed to examine the playoff format of four events in as many weeks.

"I think everyone was under the understanding all the top players were committed to play."

Mickelson is not the only big name who will not tee it up at Cog Hill on Thursday.

British Open champion Padraig Harrington is also taking the week off, citing fatigue. Bernhard Langer and Paul Goydos are also absent, cutting the field to 66 players.

None of the first three playoff events has attracted a full field.

World No. 1 Tiger Woods was the most notable absentee from the first tournament, while Ernie Els and Scott Verplank skipped the second event.

Mickelson says he is committed to next week's Tour Championship in Atlanta, but that is not much consolation to the Chicago golf fans who were expecting to see all of the world's best players.