Why did mickelson withdraw from memorial

He certainly seemed gassed after the round. Playing while distracted and upset will take an even greater toll, as any golfer knows. Neither is Watson, or the third member of the group, Rickie Fowler , who said the phones have become a nuisance for the marquee players. As Couples stood over the ball, there were perhaps 20 fans still taking pictures. As Haas hit his shot, there were zero.

But they don't. It can cost guys tournaments, because a shot on Thursday is the same as a shot on Sunday. So, Mickelson bailed before they got to Friday. A Memorial Tournament official said Mickelson never spoke with tournament host Jack Nicklaus before leaving, and it was unclear if he spoke with any other staffers about his phone concerns.

His playing partners did some of the work for him. When they make these marquee pairings, more people are going to follow them and more people want to take pictures. Ever since they made that rule that cell phones are allowed, it's just not fun playing. Mickelson withdraws from Memorial after Justin Thomas is ready for a big year, Greg Norman's league needs players and other big things in golf. Hansen opens with two-shot lead in Dubai.

McIlroy returns to longtime swing coach Bannon. European Tour rebranding, doubling prize money. Dominant Hovland repeats as winner at Mayakoba. Pieters holds nerve to win Portugal Masters. Hovland leads by 2 at Mayakoba after late birdies. Pieters, Pavon share Portugal lead into final day.

Nakajima earns Masters spot with playoff victory. Wolff's Mayakoba lead down to 2 with late bogeys. Bertasio holds two-shot lead in Portugal. Nakajima leads Asia-Pacific Amateur by a stroke. Open in two weeks than to finish Jack Nicklaus' tournament. He attributed the fatigue to playing three straight week, and then going to Europe to celebrate his wife's 40th birthday. He returned home to play a corporate outing Tuesday in New York, flew to Ohio for the pro-am and found his head wasn't in the game.

It's a beautiful way to get ready for the U. Open," he said. I have to look at what's best for me to play in the U. Open, and I'm going to take the next few days to kind of rest up. It's not unusual for players to withdraw after a high score — it was Mickelson's worst in the 13 trips to the Memorial -- and three other players withdrew Thursday.

But it's rare when the player is of Mickelson's stature, a four-time major champion inducted this month into the World Golf Hall of Fame.