Phil Mickelson withdraws from WGC Match Play for ‘personal reasons’

Citing “personal reasons,” Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship.

Mickelson told the PGA Tour on Sunday that he won’t play at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, according to Golf Channel.

Not a fan of the prior venue and handcuffed by a former date that conflicted with his kids’ school break, Mickelson has skipped the match-play event since 2011. However, in a one-off situation, the Tour had moved the date from February to May and the venue from Dove Mountain in Arizona.

Mikko Illonen, the No. 68 player in the world, will take Mickelson’s spot. Tim Clark (injury) and Luke Donald (wedding) had already pulled out from the event.

Mickelson is still expected to play in the ensuing two weeks at The Players Championship and Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte.