AUGUSTA, Ga. — Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from next week’s Masters, citing a family health matter that’s kept him sidelined for most of this year’s LIV Golf season.
“Unfortunately I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter,” Mickelson announced on social media.
This withdrawal comes as Tiger Woods is also taking an indefinite leave following his February 27 arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in Florida.
It’s a significant moment for the tournament – this will be the first Masters without either Woods or Mickelson since 1994, when Tiger was still in high school and Phil was recovering from a skiing accident that broke his leg.
Augusta National has always brought out the best in Mickelson. He captured his first major there in 2004, winning by a single shot with that memorable birdie putt on the final hole. He added green jackets in 2006 and 2010, putting him in elite company as one of just eight players with three or more Masters victories.
Mickelson hasn’t shared specifics about the family health situation. After missing LIV Golf’s first four events this year, he returned to competition two weeks ago in South Africa, where he finished tied for 48th in the 57-player field.
“It’s just fun to be back playing,” he said during that tournament.
The only other time Mickelson missed the Masters was in 2022 during his self-imposed break following controversial comments about LIV Golf and Saudi Arabia. Those remarks, which included dismissing Saudi human rights concerns while criticizing the PGA Tour for “obnoxious greed,” cost him several major sponsorships before he eventually joined the LIV circuit later that year.
The Masters begins April 9 with 91 players currently in the field. One spot remains available for the winner of this week’s Texas Open, if they’re not already qualified.
