Mickelson set to miss Chicago Cup leg

Phil Mickelson has delivered another big blow to the US Tour’s new FedExCup series by saying he might skip this week’s third leg in Chicago – even though he is leading.

Mickelson said after winning the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston – his first victory playing head to head with Tiger Woods – that there were some issues about the scheduling which he was not happy with and he might choose to have the week with his family instead.

This follow Woods missing the opening event of the series in New York, preferring to rest instead.

“I want to have a balance in my life,” said Mickelson.

“I certainly feel the obligation to play and support the FedEx Cup and to support the PGA Tour and the game of golf, but my family has sacrificed a lot this year because it’s been a very difficult schedule.

“It’s not the four FedExCup tournaments – it’s the PGA, Akron right before. Only four days off after the British Open before we had to travel and playing two weeks before that, so it’s been the last three months having no more than two days off at a time and working to do corporate outings in between.

“So our time together has struggled and I want to have a balance there.

“My frustration from this past year came from asking for a couple of things in the FedEx Cup that weren’t done and not really feeling all that bad now if I happen to miss.

“I’m not really sure how it’s going to play out.”

Mickelson added that he had been discussing the situation with US Tour commissioner Tim Finchem for some time.

“Every time I see him this year I bring it up.”

As for denying Woods victory, Mickelson, who shot a closing 66 to the world number one’s 67, commented: “He was making a charge there in the end and to be able to stand up on 16 after he knocked it close and follow it with a birdie of my own, knock it inside of him to finish with a couple of birdies coming in to win, it feels terrific.

“Now the next step is to try to hopefully go head to head in a major. We don’t get paired very often in majors and hopefully next year we’ll have a chance to do that.”