Phil Mickelson has officially withdrawn from next week's PGA Championship, despite being listed in the initial field released Tuesday by the PGA of America. The six-time major winner confirmed the news shortly after, citing a family health matter that has kept him away from competitive golf.

"I wish I could. I can't unfortunately," Mickelson told Flushing It Golf. "I'm hoping to play the rest of the year after that, but honestly I don't know."

This marks another pause for the 55-year-old legend, who announced last month before the Masters that he was stepping away from the game due to a "personal health matter" in his family. He hasn't teed it up since, and there's no clear timeline for his return.

Mickelson has played just one LIV Golf event this season—the South Africa tournament. It's a far cry from his early days as the face of the Saudi-backed league, where his vocal support and controversial comments about the partnership drew heavy scrutiny. Now, with the Public Investment Fund pulling its funding after the 2026 campaign, LIV's future hangs in the balance.

For fans of the sport, it's a bittersweet moment. Mickelson's last major victory came at the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, where he became the oldest major winner in history at age 50. That win—his second at this event, following his 2005 triumph—was nothing short of iconic. He nearly added another at the 2023 Masters with a T2 finish, but his form has dipped since moving to LIV, missing the cut in seven of his last 11 majors, including three of four last season. His best recent finish was T56 at last year's British Open.

While Mickelson won't be at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia, several other LIV stars are still in the field, including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, and Cameron Smith. The course is hosting the PGA Championship for the first time since 1962, adding a layer of nostalgia to an already compelling week.

For now, golf fans will have to wait and see when—or if—Lefty returns to the fairways. His absence leaves a void, but his legacy as one of the game's most electrifying players remains firmly intact.