Tiger Woods backs PGA Tour and criticises Phil Mickelson comments

• Phil has said things that a lot of us have pushed back against'
• Woods says US PGA champion will be missed at Southern Hills

It was far from a full-on attack. Nonetheless, Tiger Woods delivered more than enough veiled criticism of Phil Mickelson for onlookers to be left in little doubt that the 15-time major champion has little sympathy for his old adversary's predicament. Mickelson will miss this week's US PGA Championship, where he was due to appear as the defending champion, as the fallout from comments relating to Saudi Arabia and a breakaway tour continue.

Woods admitted he had not contacted Mickelson since the latter stepped away from golf in late February. Comments by Woods in firm defence of golf's existing ecosystem are in stark contrast to the approach of Mickelson, who accused the PGA Tour of obnoxious greed" and claimed he sought leverage" via the Saudis.