Phil Mickelson’s season is officially over.
After a second-round 76 left him 14 shots off the pace at the BMW Championship, Mickelson opted to withdraw in advance of the third round at Cherry Hills in order to begin his preparations for the Ryder Cup later this month.
“My primary goal is to rest and prepare for the Ryder Cup,” he said in a statement. “Without a chance to contend at the Tour Championship, the most important thing for me now is to prepare for the Ryder Cup.”
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Mickelson entered the week at No. 56 in the FedEx Cup standings, and likely needed to finish fourth or better to earn one of 30 spots in the field at next week’s Tour Championship. He opened with an even-par 70, but after his second-round struggles was tied for 63rd at the halfway point among a 68-man field.
It is an abrupt end to one of Mickelson’s worst seasons to date. This is the first time in the playoff era (since 2007) that he has failed to make it to the Tour Championship, and the first time since 2003 that he has finished a season without a win. His runner-up at the PGA Championship last month was his only top-10 finish of the season.
