Phil Mickelson Withdraws From BMW to Focus on Ryder Cup

If the U.S. team wants any shot of winning the Ryder Cup in 2014, they will need a capable Phil Mickelson to help get them there. Unfortunately, Mickelson has struggled mightily this golf season. Due to being six over in the BMW Championship, and generally not playing well, Mickelson has intelligently decided to withdraw from the tournament to focus on the Ryder Cup.

“My primary goal is to rest and prepare for the Ryder Cup,” Mickelson said in a statement, according to CBS Sports. “Without a chance to contend at the Tour Championship, the most important thing for me now is to prepare for the Ryder Cup.”

In 21 events this season, the 44-year-old has made 16 cuts. However, he has only finished in the top 10 once, which occurred at the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in mid-July.

Clearly, staying fresh for the Ryder Cup needs to be a top priority, especially since he understands competing in the Tour Championship is no longer a realistic possibility. I believe this is a legitimate reason to withdraw from the BMW Championship. Others do not think it is right for him to just bow out the way he did, but the reality is there is nothing more important than the Ryder Cup at this point in the year, at least for him.

Of course, by taking himself out of the tournament, Mickelson must now put on a show at Gleneagles, the site of the Ryder Cup. The good news for the Americans is that Mickelson is already self-determined considering 2014 is the first time in a decade that he will go winless in an entire season.