Mickelson decides not to participate in the Masters

Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, who has moved away from public view since his inflammatory statements about the Saudi Arabia-funded rival league and the PGA Tour, has decided that Augusta National will not play this year.

Mickelson's name no longer appears on the list of players expected to compete in the Masters and moved to a section in the background titled “champions of the past who will not play”.

The club confirmed that Mickelson has notified Augusta Nacional that he will not participate in the tournament. The Masters takes place from April 7 to 10.

It will be the first time that Mickelson has not participated in the Masters since 1994, when he was recovering from a broken leg he suffered while skiing.

Mickelson, who last year became the oldest champion in a major when he won the PGA Championship at age 50, was at Saudi International when he was accused by the PGA Tour in an interview published in Golf Digest of “hateful greed.”

Two weeks later, golf writer and author Alan Shipnuck published part of Mickelson's biography, which yielded more information about his relationship with Greg Norman and the Saudi-funded “Super Golf League”.

Mickelson told Shipnuck that the Saudis who support the league were “scary” guys, using rudeness.

He also pointed out that it was worth getting into bed with the Saudis, despite their record against human rights, if that meant having the opportunity to change the PGA Tour.

“We know that they killed (Washington Post columnist Jamal) Khashoggi and that they have a horrible record in human rights. People are executed for being gay,” he said. “Knowing all that, why do I even consider it? Because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the way the PGA Tour operates.”

The interview took place in November last year, and Mickelson apologized for the comments he called “reckless.” He also said they were unofficial. Shipnuck pointed out that they were not.