Mickelson doubtful for Buick

Tiger Woods is all systems go for his first appearance of the year in California this week – but Phil Mickelson is not.

The world’s top two players are both in the field for the Buick Invitational starting on Thursday at Torrey Pines – also the venue for June’s US Open – but Mickelson has been confined to bed for the past two days.

The left-hander is suffering from what is described as “a respiratory ailment”. He still hopes he might be well enough to compete in tomorrow’s pro-am.

Mickelson’s website states that he has been “plagued by heavy congestion, shortness of breath and fatigue since October.

“It’s unclear whether the condition was caused by working in the smoky debris on his property following the wildfires that devastated Mickelson’s neighbourhood or by the illness he developed immediately after that in Singapore. He has not felt 100% since then and his condition worsened over the weekend.”