Phil Mickelson tips his cap to the crowd during a first-round win last year. Photo by Allan Henry-US PRESSWIRE
Phil Mickelson won’t play in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana next month, saying he will be taking a family vacation instead.
He also skipped the 2010 event, also to be his family on a vacation postponed by cancer treatment for his wife.
The absence of Mickelson, who is ranked No. 15 in the world, opens up a spot in the field, which is available to the top-ranked 64 players. Mickelson is one of the biggest draws, but rarely has had extended success in the match play event, managing to reach the quarterfinals in 2004.
Mickelson was ousted in the second round last year by 22-year old Rickie Fowler in a 6-and-5 match.
Among former Arizona Wildcats, Jim Furyk is ranked 55th in the world and Rory Sabbatini is just inside the cut line for the match play event, ranked 62nd.
The field will be determined by the world rankings following the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, which ends Feb. 12.
The Accenture Match Play Championship will be held at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain, from Feb. 22-26. Luke Donald won the 2011 event. He is ranked No. 1 in the world.