Phil Mickelson will play, after all, in CareerBuilder Challenge
After a little bit of will-he-won’t-he, Phil Mickelson is going to play in the CareerBuilder Challenge this week, the first year Mickelson is considered the ambassador (read: sort-of host) of the event.
There had been some doubt if Mickelson would play after the five-time major winner had a pair of off-season surgeries to repair a sports hernia he dealt with throughout 2016. Following an October procedure that had him on pace to start the year in the California desert, a second surgery in December led to some speculation Mickelson would be unable to compete. Then last Friday, Mickelson’s name remained on the list of tournament entries when the official deadline to commit was reached. Mickelson had said earlier in the week that it would be a last-minute decision.
Mickelson will play with two-time tournament winner and all-time event money leader Bill Haas for the first three rounds of the event as the professionals and amateurs in the event cycle through the three-course rotation of La Quinta Country Club, as well the Nicklaus Tournament and TPC Stadium courses at PGA West for the first three rounds. Mickelson and Haas will play with two amateurs on Thursday at 8:40 a.m. local time.
Had Mickelson been unable to play this week, he would have likely returned instead at next week’s Farmers Insurance Open near San Diego.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
