One of the more notable absences from the PGA Championship this week is Phil Mickelson, who opted against playing in the major championship. Loads of golfers have weighed in on Phil's absence, but no one was quite as blunt as two-time Southern Hills champ Dave Stockton, who revealed that Mickelson “was not missed” during the annual dinner ahead of the tournament, via ESPN.

“It was a fun evening. Phil was not missed,” Stockton said via ESPN. “I think Phil would have been a big distraction whether he was here. The story here this week is the PGA.”

Mickelson made his decision to forgo the event last Friday, in what is his latest absence, having not featured at a PGA event since January. It's unclear when he will resume playing on the Tour. Mickelson is the reigning PGA Championship winner, so his absence from the field at Southern Hills was particularly noticeable.

While various golfers weighed in on his absence, the 80-year-old Stockton was certainly among the most critical of the 51-year-old. Stockton won at Southern Hills in 1970 and again in 1976, and clearly, is not too bothered by Mickelson's absence in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Saudi Super League and the PGA Tour.

Mickelson found himself in hot waters after journalist Alan Shipnuck published controversial comments from their conversation regarding the upstart Saudi LIV Golf Invitational, as well as remarks about the PGA Tour. He hasn't featured at a PGA Tour event since January, including missing out on The Masters.