Phil Mickelson withdraws from Open amid personal life controversy

Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, marking only the second time in his professional career he will miss the event and the first time since 2009. The 56-year-old, who won the Claret Jug at Muirfield in 2013, has played just once in 2025 — at the LIV Golf event in South Africa — citing an ongoing family health issue. His absence from all four majors this year is the first such occurrence since 1990, and comes amid controversy including the revocation of his membership at a San Diego golf club following accusations of inappropriate behavior by a female employee.