Phil Mickelson suffers injury setback

• Phil Mickelson out indefinitely after sports hernia setback
• The 46-year-old was forced to undergo a second surgery
• His PGA Tour return in January now in serious doubt

The start of Phil Mickelson’s 2017 season could be delayed as he recovers from another sports hernia operation.

The 46-year-old, who has been largely untroubled by injury throughout his career, underwent umbilical hernia surgery days after playing in the Safeway Open in October, telling Golf Digest’s Tim Rosaforte that it was ‘no big deal’.

However, it appears that the problem hasn’t been as straightforward as the American first thought, with a statement through his spokesman revealing that he had since had a second procedure.

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Mickelson had been expected to begin is 2017 schedule at the PGA Tour’s CareerBuilder Challenge from January 19-22 – where he has replaced Bill Clinton as a tournament ambassador – and, although he is expected to make a full recovery, there is no timetable for his return.

A sports hernia is a strain or tear of any soft tissue (muscle, tendon, ligament) in the lower abdomen or groin area – in Mickelson’s case a walnut-sized one behind his belly button.

In terms of recovery, light resistance training and jogging can be done within three weeks of the surgery, sport specific therapy from three to six weeks, while return to sport is gradual and also anywhere from three to six weeks of therapy.

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When will we see Phil Mickelson back?

Do you think we’ll see Phil Mickelson back in action at the CareerBuilder Challenge on the PGA Tour in five weeks’ time? Have you had a sports hernia before? If so, how long did it take for you to recover? Let us know in the ‘Comments’ section below.