Mickelson, AK, and Stricker All Among Golf's Wounded Superstars

Earlier this week, Anthony Kim revealed to reporters at the Quail Hollow Championship that he would be taking some time away from the game to have his injured thumb repaired by surgery.  The operation to repair a torn ligament will sideline him for two to three months.

Kim, the '08 champion at Quail Hollow, said he wanted to play in the Ryder Cup.  Provided that is in September, Kim will likely have to miss two majors this year.  AK says he will likely play the next two weeks and then consider when to go under the knife.

Steve Stricker has been playing in pain for the last several weeks.  The world number three withdrew from the New Orleans stop this week and didn't even bother to enter the Quail Hollow Championship in lieu of resting an inflamed joint where his clavicle and sternum meet.  Stricker says there has been passing upper chest pain from that injury for several seasons now, but can no longer ignore it.

This afternoon, ESPN's Jason Sobel reported that Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Quail Hollow pro-am due to sickness.  Mickelson's people say that he will try to play in the tournament starting tomorrow.