Phil Mickelson out of Match Play Championship for personal reasons
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the Match Play Championship because of personal reasons.
Mickelson did not elaborate in a short statement Sunday released by the PGA Tour. Mickelson says he is happy with the new format and he likes Harding Park as a venue for the 64-man field. He said only that it was unfortunate he would not be able to play this year.
Mickelson was replaced by Mikko Ilonen of Finland.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Mickelson has not played since his runner-up finish at the Masters. He has skipped the Match Play in recent years when it was at Dove Mountain in Arizona, and when the Match Play was a single-elimination format. It now will be round robin with 16 four-man groups, meaning each player is guaranteed at least three matches.