Phil Mickelson Withdraws from The Masters
Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson has officially withdrawn from this year’s tournament, citing a personal health matter involving his family. This decision comes after he missed all but one of the five LIV Golf events this season. In a social media post, Mickelson shared the news, stating, “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.”
This marks a significant moment in the history of the Masters, as it will be the first time neither Tiger Woods nor Mickelson will be present since 1994. That year, Woods was a senior in high school, while Mickelson had broken his leg while skiing earlier that year.
A Historic Absence
The 1994 Masters featured several notable names. Bernhard Langer was the defending champion, Greg Norman was world No.1, and Rory McIlroy was just four years old. Scottie Scheffler, currently the world No.1, was still two years away from being born. José María Olazábal won his first green jacket by two shots over Tom Lehman.
Mickelson has always regarded the Masters as “definitely the most special week of the year.” His record at Augusta National is impressive, with wins in 2004, 2006, and 2010. He is one of only eight players to win the Masters at least three times. His 2004 victory remains memorable, as he secured the title with a birdie putt on the 72nd hole.
A Legacy of Rivalry
Mickelson and Tiger Woods have a long-standing rivalry, which reached its peak during the 2009 Masters. Both started the final round seven shots behind the leader, but a six-under front nine propelled Mickelson into contention. However, a costly double bogey on the par-3 12th ended his chances. He finished in a tie for fifth, three shots behind the winner. Woods was slightly further back.
As the defending champion from 2005, Woods presented Mickelson with his second green jacket in 2006. Their rivalry has been a highlight of the tournament for decades.
Personal Challenges and Career Shifts
Mickelson has not disclosed the details of the personal family matter. He sat out LIV’s first four events of the year and returned in South Africa two weeks ago, finishing tied for 48th in a field of 57 players. “It’s just fun to be back playing,” he said following the event.
This is the second time Mickelson has missed the Masters. In 2022, he took a leave of absence after making controversial remarks about the Saudi-funded LIV Golf tour. He criticized the PGA Tour for what he called “obnoxious greed” in a Golf Digest interview. In an interview with author Alan Shipnuck, he dismissed concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi as an opportunity to reshape the PGA Tour.
These remarks led to the loss of corporate sponsorships, and Mickelson eventually joined LIV later that year.
Upcoming Masters Field
The Masters will begin next Thursday night (AEDT) with a 91-man field, leaving one spot available if the winner of this week’s Texas Open is not already eligible.
