Mickelson's absence from PGA called `sad'

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 Saudifunded rival league he supports in conflict with the PGA Tour.

Mickelson 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,” Woods said. “And we all understand that.”

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.