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NANCY ARMOUR
Golf

What's sad isn't Phil Mickelson missing the PGA Championship. It's Mickelson himself | Opinion

As bad as it’s been to see Mickelson's image and reputation go up in flames, there should be a sense of relief he's not defending his PGA Championship title.

Nancy Armour
USA TODAY

Phil Mickelson’s absence will no doubt loom large over the PGA Championship. A year after his improbable win at Kiawah Island, this week would have been a celebration of that accomplishment and so many others in his career.

Instead of sadness at how far the most beloved golfer since Arnold Palmer has fallen, however, there should be a sense of relief. Bad as it’s been to see his image and reputation go up in flames from a distance, it would be far worse to see the blaze up close.

And that’s exactly what would have happened had Mickelson showed up at Southern Hills.

Waiver requests for the next event on the Saudi-backed tour, almost certain to be denied by the PGA Tour, are due Tuesday. That’s also the day that “Phil,” an unauthorized biography by longtime golf writer Alan Shipnuck that shows the craven and boorish side of the six-time major champion that the public rarely sees, is released.