Mickelson to skip Tour Championship

PGA champion Phil Mickelson decided Friday not to play in the Tour Championship, the second time in the last five years he has skipped the season-ending event for the top 30 on the PGA Tour money list.

Mickelson did not elaborate on the reason in a statement released by Gaylord Sports.

“He’s made a personal, private decision that he’s not going to discuss,” spokesman T.R. Reinman said.

Mickelson, who is No. 3 on the money list with nearly $5.7 million, did not play in 2001 because of the birth of his second child. He was not eligible for the Tour Championship two years ago.

He has a history of scaling back his schedule after the four majors, playing no more than five tournaments after the PGA Championship since 2001.