Phil Mickelson has no timetable for return after second hernia operation
Tuesday 13 December 2016 09:00, UK
Phil Mickelson has had surgery on a sports hernia for the second time in three months and is not sure when he will be able to return to action.
The five-time major winner first had an operation in October after playing in the Safeway Open.
And he had planned to begin his 2017 season at the CareerBuilder Challenge on January 19-22 in Palm Desert, California.
However, Mickelson's management company have announced that, while he is expected to make a full recovery, there is no timetable yet for his return - although he will be at the CareerBuilder Challenge as an ambassador for the event.
Mickelson has not won a title since claiming the Open title at Muirfield in 2013 but enjoyed a fine 2016, registering six top 10 finishes.
He was very unfortunate not to win the Open again, just missing out after a superb, high-quality duel with Sweden's Henrik Stenson.
And Mickelson also won two and a half points as part of the victorious USA Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine, halving his singles match with Sergio Garcia on the final day after another memorable tussle.
