Phil Mickelson withdraws from BMW Championship, ends season to rest for Ryder Cup

Phil Mickelson may be facing a hefty fine from the PGA Tour for withdrawing from the BMW Championship after struggling to a 6-over 76 in Friday’s second round.

Of course, we’ll never know what, if any, penalty Lefty may incur for removing himself from contention midway through the proceedings for what appeared to be a non-injury-related issue. Mickelson, who was iffy about playing last week at the Deutsche Bank Championship after a missed secondary cut at The Barclays, said he quit because of his poor play and the need to be fresh for the Ryder Cup in three weeks.

“My primary goal is to rest and prepare for the Ryder Cup,” Mickelson, who finished his abbreviated week tied for 63rd and 14 shots back of leader Sergio Garcia (8-under through 36), said in a statement released early Saturday morning, according to reports. “Without a chance to contend at the Tour Championship, the most important thing for me now is to prepare for the Ryder Cup.”

With the top 30 advancing to next week’s fourth and final FedEx Cup playoff event, the Tour Championship, and Mickelson projected to end up 64th after carding a triple-bogey on the par-3 12th and four bogeys, the five-time major champion hung up his spikes on the worst season of his career. Along with two other WDs, he missed three 36-hole cuts and had only one top-10 finish, second place at the PGA Championship.

Mickelson joined Jason Day on the bench, though Day had a legitimate reason — just one in a string of injuries that have beset the Aussie this season — for his WD halfway through Friday’s second round. A back injury that began in Wednesday’s pro-am was the latest health issue to derail Day’s frustrating 2014 campaign, which has included a bad thumb, vertigo, and a wrist injury.

“I am extremely disappointed to have to pull out of this event,” said Day, who is eligible to play at East Lake if his body is able. “I will be getting treatment over the next few days and hopefully be ready for the Tour Championship.”

Mickelson, following his 54-hole MC at The Barclays, complained about the PGA Tour’s hectic season-ending schedule that, by Thursday, had him starting his fifth tourney in six weeks. He hinted ahead of the DBC that he might miss the second playoff game at TPC Boston but showed up in time for kickoff saying his performance would be a “crapshoot.”

Despite a sloppy third round at the Deutsche Bank, Mickelson’s final-round 67 left him “excited” ahead of this week’s tilt at Cherry Hills CC, which he started with a 70. Mickelson automatically qualified for the Ryder Cup after his first season without notching a win since 2003.

Mickelson’s WD also marks the first time since the playoffs started in 2007 that he will not qualify for the FedEx Cup finale.

Left unanswered in Mickelson’s brief statement was whether he was ready for some football.

The popular golfer was slated to join world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson on the sidelines of the Broncos-Colts game Sunday night as guests of Denver QB Peyton Manning. We can’t imagine that taking in the teams’ season-opener would put a crimp in Phil’s R&R.