NO PHIL, BUT NAME COMES UP AT PGA

“Sad. This should be a celebration, right?” Rory McIlroy • On Phil Mickelson’s absence from PGA Tournament

Phil Mickelson isn’t even at Southern Hills and he’s still the talk of Tulsa.

Hardly a player could escape the microphone Tuesday without addressing Mickelson’s decision to skip the PGA Championship after his incendiary comments about a Saudi-funded rival league he supports in conflict with the PGA Tour.

The San Diego native also skipped the Masters. But the PGA Championship feels like an even bigger deal. It was supposed to be Lefty’s victory lap after his stunning win last year at age 50.

“Unfortunate. Sad,” Rory McIlroy said. “This should be a celebration, right? He won a major championship at 50 years old. It was possibly his last big, big moment in the game of golf. I think he should be here this week and celebrating what a monumental achievement he achieved last year.”

Jon Rahm called Mickelson a “good friend” who has do what’s best for himself.

“I can’t remember the last time a major champion didn’t defend a title,” Rahm said. “I would have liked to see him defend. (But) he’s got to do what he’s got to do.”

Tiger Woods also called it “disappointing” not to have the defending champion tee it up. Then he teed off on the issue of the Saudi-funded events.

“Phil has said some things that I think a lot of us who are committed to the tour and committed to the legacy of the tour have pushed back against, and he’s taken some personal time, and we all understand that,” Woods said in his pre-tournament press conference. “But I think that some of his views on how the tour could be run, should be run, been a lot of disagreement there.

“But as we all know, as a professional, we miss him being out here. I mean, he’s a big draw for the game of golf. He’s just taking his time and we all wish him the best when he comes back. Obviously we’re going to have difference of opinions, how he sees the TOUR, and we’ll go from there.”

Not everyone was too wrapped up in the missing champ, however.

“Not here. There’s not really much else I can say,” said two-time PGA champion Brooks Koepka, who was outplayed by Mickelson in the final pairing last year.

Said Justin Thomas: “I don’t really have an opinion. I never wish bad on anybody. It’s just I’m here to try to win a golf tournament and try to win the PGA Championship.”