NAPA, Calif. – According to various reports, Phil Mickelson was set to play the first two days of the Safeway Open with Tiger Woods, which would have been a chance for the two to revisit the U.S. victory at the Ryder Cup.
That stroll down memory lane will have to wait, after Woods withdrew from the 2016-17 season opener at Silverado Resort & Spa.
Like most players, officials and fans, Mickelson said Woods’ withdrawal will hurt this week’s event, but from a competitive point of view, Lefty understood Tiger’s decision.
“We all want Tiger to come back, but we want him to come back when he’s ready,” Mickelson said. “If he doesn’t feel like he’s ready, then he should wait.
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“We’ll all wait in anticipation and we’re excited, but I understand there’s a lot of pressure not just to come back but to perform when he does come back.”
Mickelson said he and Woods never discussed the state of Tiger’s game during the Ryder Cup, but considering the unique pressure of his return to the Tour after 14 months away from the game, it was best that he wait until he was ready.
“All the members of the media that were coming here when he was committed and all the analysis of his swing, analysis of his game, all that stuff leads to pressure,” Mickelson said. “If he doesn’t feel like it’s right, then he needs to wait. We support him.”