12:50 PM ET

Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, said that three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson was eligible to compete if he wanted to.

In late February or early March, Mickelson sent a text message to Ridley that he wouldn't be playing at the Masters.

Phil is a three-time Masters champion and is invited in many other categories.

Phil let me know that he did not intend to play. I thanked him for letting me know, because that was by text. I told him that we appreciated that and that I was willing to discuss it further with him. He thanked me, and we had a nice exchange.

After becoming the oldest major champion at 50 last year, Phil Mickelson hasn't played in a PGA Tour event in more than two months. He missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open.

On February 17th, author Alan Shipnuck posted comments made by golfer Phil Mickelson about the PGA Tour being funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has an estimated worth of $500 billion.

Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) was posted by Shipnuck, who was told that they are scary motherf---ers to get involved with. The Fire Pit Collective website has a biography of Golf's Most Colorful Superstar.

It's... They have a horrible record on human rights, and they execute people for being gay. Why would I consider it if I knew all of this? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change how the PGA Tour operates.

The comments were criticized by other pros. Workday and Amstel Light ended their relationships with him. Callaway stopped its relationship with Phil Mickelson.

He apologized for his comments.

I am deeply sorry for my choice of words, and I will make every effort to learn from this.

He would be taking a break from golf. At the Players Championship last month, Jay Monahan said he hadn't yet spoken to Lefty.

I have not been my best and need some time away to work on being the man I want to be.

It would have been his 30th Masters appearance. He did not win a green jacket in 2010.

He made a personal decision and I don't know anything else. He has been a big part of our history. We wish him the best as he works through the issues he is dealing with right now.