World Number two Phil Mickelson has revealed he is suffering from psoriatic arthritis – an inflammatory joint disease which can cause such symptoms as stiffness, pain and lack of movement.
Mickelson, who has adopted a vegetarian diet to help treat the condition has said that drugs prescribed to treat the condition are working and that he still feels able to compete.
The problem first surfaced just prior to the US Open at Pebble Beach in June, and he has been taking anti-inflammatories, including when competing in the Scottish Open and Open Championship at St. Andrews in July.
For the past fortnight, Mickelson has also been taking a weekly injection to help combat the disease, and he will require to take the drug for the next year.
Mickelson is competing in this week’s US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin where he is hoping to add to his four major titles.
Mickelson’s condition might go some way to explaining the world number two’s recent lacklustre performances and his difficulty in deposing an out-of-sorts Tiger Woods from the top spot, but the amicable left-hander has now set his sights on doing that.
“When I said I wasn’t thinking about it too much I really wasn’t – I was more concerned about getting through some of this stuff,” he said.
“Now that we seem to have a treatment that works and I feel great and I can work out and practise again I’m looking forward to getting my game sharp for this week and the FedExCup and the Ryder Cup.”
Speedy recovery, Phil!
