"It's pitiful!" Gary Player defends "sorry" Phil Mickelson at The Masters

Gary Player sought to defend Phil Mickelson after he got The Masters underway with Jack Nicklaus and new honorary starter Tom Watson.

Related: Gary Player wears Golf Saudi logo at The Masters

Player reckons Mickelson ought to be welcomed back into the golf community after his comments and dealings with Saudi Arabia as he sought to establish a new golf league with Greg Norman. 

It was revealed this week that Lefty informed Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley by text message in early March that he decided not to play The Masters for the first time in 28 years.

There was speculation that he was advised not to show up but Ridley said in his press conference "we did not disinvite Phil". 

Player, 86, told the media: "I have a special thought on Phil Mickelson. I think we live in a time now when we are such a judgmental society, a litigious society, a critical society, where people get crucified.

"The greatest PR man on the golf Tour in the last five or X amount of years has been Phil Mickelson. He has been the ideal man for a sponsor, for professional golf, for the public, the way he's handled the public, with dignity and with love.

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