Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith make swift Saudi Arabia exit

Phil Mickelson will have more time to get involved in social media debates about LIV Golf and the PGA Tour after he missed the cut at the Saudi International. 

A visibly skinnier Mickelson, 52, wasn't the only big name to miss the halfway cut at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Jeddah. 

Also exiting the tournament early are Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau. 

At the beginning of the week Mickelson spoke of his desire to win more major championships in the twilight of his career before kicking off his 2023. 

But after 36 holes Mickelson found himself considerably off the lead having carded rounds of 70 and 71.

Over two days, Mickelson's play was once again all or nothing, carding eight birdies, six bogeys and one triple bogey. 

On day two, Mickelson did the damage at No. 9 when he carded a triple bogey and dropped more shots at 11, 13 and 14. 

The aforementioned Smith missed the cut by two strokes. 

DeChambeau spoke before the tournament of believing he could return to his 2018 self where he "dominated". 

But after 36 holes he finished on 7-over par, despite curiously putting the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus into his bag. 

DeChambeau has some unhappy memories at this venue.

Phil Mickelson has arrived in Saudi Arabia to begin his 2023 season. The beard is gone. pic.twitter.com/r5si2ysvUM

— Phil Mickelson Tracker (@TrackingPhil) January 30, 2023

It was here last year that DeChambeau slipped over playing ping pong and broke his wrist. 

He went on to miss the cut at the Masters, despite going against his doctor's advice. 

Bubba Watson, who has re-branded his LIV Golf League team, also missed the cut. 

PGA Tour rookie of the year closes in on first win...

Cameron Young will enter the weekend one stroke back of the leader Abraham Ancer at 11-under. 

Young received an exemption to enter this event, which conflicts with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. 

The American carded a second consecutive 65 to move within striking distance of Ancer, who joined LIV Golf last summer. 

Young is yet to claim a win on the PGA Tour, despite capturing back-to-back Korn Ferry Tour titles in 2021. 

He is now inside the top-20 players in the world after a breakout year in which he came runner-up to Smith at the 150th Open Championship. 

Since then, Young has struggled somewhat, failing to post a top-10 since that near miss at St. Andrews. 

Young is sponsored by RBC, but he is not wearing their logo in Saudi Arabia. 

He told the media: 

Also in the top-10 heading into the weekend are Louis Oosthuizen, 15-year-old Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Richard Bland, Marc Leishman, Jason Kokrak, Lucas Herbert and Sadom Kaewkanjana. 

The defending champion of the Saudi International is Harold Varner III. 

Also on the LIV roster now, HVIII took the time before the tournament to criticise his new employer and the PGA Tour. 

Dustin Johnson was forced to withdraw from the Saudi International before the first round. 

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