Phil Mickelson Withdraws from The Masters
Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson has announced his withdrawal from this year’s tournament, citing a personal health matter within his family. This decision comes after he missed all but one of the five LIV Golf events this year. In a social media post, Mickelson expressed his disappointment at not being able to participate in the event, which he described as “the most special week of the year.”
“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,” he wrote.
This marks a significant absence for Mickelson, who has been a key figure in the tournament’s history. His withdrawal adds to the list of notable absences, as Tiger Woods is also taking an indefinite leave from professional golf following his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence after a car crash near his Florida home.
A Historic Absence
The absence of both Woods and Mickelson from the Masters will be the first time since 1994, when Woods was a senior in high school and Mickelson had broken his leg while skiing earlier that year. That year saw Bernhard Langer as the defending champion, with Greg Norman ranked as world No.1. At the time, Rory McIlroy was only four years old, and current world No.1 Scottie Scheffler was still two years away from being born.
José María Olazábal won his first green jacket by two shots over Tom Lehman, marking a memorable chapter in the tournament’s history.
A Legacy of Excellence
Mickelson’s record at the Masters is nothing short of legendary. He won his first major title at Augusta National in 2004, the most recent time the Masters was decided by a birdie putt on the 72nd hole. He followed this up with victories in 2006 and 2010, making him one of only eight players to win the Masters at least three times.
In the 2009 Masters, Mickelson and Woods played together in the final round. Despite starting seven shots behind the leader, a six-under front nine brought Mickelson into contention. However, a costly double bogey on the par-3 12th ended his chances, and he finished in a tie for fifth. Woods was slightly further back.
As the defending champion from 2005, Woods presented Mickelson with his second green jacket in 2006, highlighting their long-standing rivalry and mutual respect.
Personal Challenges and Career Shifts
Mickelson has not disclosed the details of the personal family matter affecting his participation. He sat out LIV’s first four events of the year and returned in South Africa two weeks ago, where he tied for 48th in a field of 57 players.
“It’s just fun to be back playing,” he said in South Africa.
This is not the first time Mickelson has missed the Masters. In 2022, he took a leave of absence following controversial remarks about the Saudi-funded LIV Golf. In a Golf Digest interview, he criticized the PGA Tour for what he called “obnoxious greed.” 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, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape the PGA Tour.
These comments led to the loss of corporate sponsorships, and Mickelson eventually joined LIV later that year.
The Masters Returns
The Masters will begin next Thursday night (AEDT) with a 91-man field, with one spot still available if the winner of this week’s Texas Open is not already eligible.
