Phil Mickelson won’t play in San Francisco this week

Citing personal reasons, Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from this week’s WGC-Cadillac Match Play in San Francisco.

“I’m really happy with the new format and TPC Harding Park is a terrific setting for match play, so it’s unfortunate that I won’t be able to play this year,” Mickelson said in a statement released by the PGA Tour.

On one hand, the news isn’t entirely surprising — he hasn’t competed in this match play with any regularity in recent years.

On the other, Mickelson had expressed enthusiasm about this year’s event and came into form with a recent tie for second at the Masters.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen will take his place in this week’s field. It was unclear whether Mickelson will compete in the Players Championship next week.