Phil Mickelson withdraws from Memorial

Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio because of fatigue

Phil Mickelson
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Memorial Tournament yesterday due to fatigue after carding an opening seven-over-par 79.

The popular American and current world number 12 decided it would be in his best interests to rest up fully before this year's U.S. Open, taking place at San Francisco's Olympic Club from June 14-17.

"I think, mentally, I'm a little bit fatigued," said the four-time major champion after his round.

"The course here is in such great shape but I'm hitting it so poorly. I have to look at what's best for me to play in the U.S. Open and I'm going to take the next few days to kind of rest up.

"Certainly, I'm disappointed with how I played today, but I've got to be more big-picture orientated and think about the U.S. Open and what's best to get my best golf out there. I need the next few days to rest."

Mickelson said his fatigue was a result of last week's trip to Europe, where he took wife Amy to celebrate her 40th birthday after three straight weeks of golf on the PGA Tour.

The 41-year-old admitted it was the first time he had quit a tournament without suffering an injury.

"I feel like it's the responsibility of a player to see through your commitment to play and finish the tournament," he said.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x