Phil Mickelson withdrew from the PGA Championship on Friday, opting to extend his hiatus from golf following his inflammatory comments about a Saudi-funded rival league he supports and the PGA Tour he has accused of greed.
Mickelson made PGA history last year when he won at Kiawah Island at age 50, making him the oldest majors champion in 161 years.
He has not played since February 6 at the Saudi international and has not been seen by the public.
Mickelson met the deadline to enter the PGA Championship on April 25, although his manager said Lefty was unsure of playing but wanted to keep his options open.
The PGA of America announcement his decision on social networks.
He is only the third PGA champion not to defend his title in the past 75 years. Tiger Woods missed in 2008 while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, and Ben Hogan was unable to play in 1949 while recovering from his car hit by a bus.
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