There was no drama at the PGA Champions evening meal.
The once-a-year food is supposed to be hosted by the prior year’s champ, but Phil Mickelson is absent from this year’s occasion at Southern Hills soon after successful the important at Kiawah Island a 12 months back. Mickelson, 51, has been in exile given that rationalizing the atrocities of the Saudi routine — with their cash guiding a rival tour operate by Greg Norman — in get to attain negotiating leverage with the PGA Tour, which he likened to a “dictatorship.”
At least just one former champion experienced no challenge with Mickelson’s absence on Tuesday evening.
“It was a enjoyable evening. Phil was not skipped,” Dave Stockton, who gained a pair of PGA Championships in the 1970s, told Golf Channel. “I believe Phil would have been a major distraction. The tale below this 7 days is the PGA.”
The PGA of America handled the responsibilities for Mickelson, finding a menu and providing items for all those in attendance. According to Golfing Channel, Stockton played a pivotal job in reimagining the meal which is now principally for previous champions.
“At Kiawah final year we experienced I think 6 or seven individuals in the space besides just players, and like we did (Tuesday), we sat all around and they simply cannot separate us out because there’s so quite a few players, former champions, that it was unbelievable,” Stockton mentioned. “We finished the night time, and all people stayed. I believe it blew the PGA officers away.”
It was assumed that Mickelson would use the PGA Championship to make his return immediately after he was commonly celebrated for successful the party last yr at the age of 50. In its place, he stays out of the public eye as the season’s 2nd big goes on without the need of him.
“This must be a celebration,’’ Rory McIlroy mentioned earlier in the 7 days. “He received a key championship at 50 several years old. It was possibly his very last big, massive minute in the match of golf. I consider he should be in this article this 7 days and celebrating what a monumental achievement he attained last calendar year. It’s unlucky. It is unfortunate.’’
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