Mickelson suffering from psoriatic arthritis

MASTERS champion Phil Mickelson last night revealed he has started treatment for a condition known as psoriatic arthritis.

The 40-year-old world number two, who will start favourite on Thursday in the USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits, said he had been suffering with “intense pain” in some joints and tendons for the past eight weeks, having woken up five days before the US Open at Pebble Beach and been unable to walk.

“It progressively got worse, and to ultimately where I had to figure something that was wrong and had to go get it checked,” Mickelson said.

“So I ended up going and seeing a doctor, and I ended up going back to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota right after the British Open to get checked, get a second opinion. And I have this thing called psoriatic arthritis where your immune system attacks your joints and tendons and so forth.

“And so I say that because everything is fine now. I’ve been starting treatment and things have been great, in the last couple of weeks I’ve been able to swing and practice full bore, I guess starting last Monday or Tuesday. It’s been only about a week now.

“I’ve had some great doctors and things have been looking great and long-term there shouldn’t be any issues. It’s very treatable and the medicine I’ve been taking has been very helpful. I feel 90%.”

Mickelson, who last Sunday had the chance to overtake Tiger Woods and become world number one only to shoot a closing 78 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, said he was going into the PGA first round feeling: “probably not as sharp as I would like to be.

“I didn’t play well at the British. I didn’t play well last week, on the weekend, but I’m able to work on it. I had a good session with Butch (Harmon, his swing coach) and I believe that the game’s coming around. I’m not sure again where I’ll be on Thursday but hopefully I’ll be ready.”