Phil Mickelson is stepping away from golf just as Augusta National gets ready for its biggest week. On Thursday, the three-time Masters champion said he will skip next week's tournament and be sidelined for an extended stretch while his family deals with a personal health matter, leaving the Masters without one of its most familiar fixtures only days before play begins.
Mickelson's statement
Mickelson shared the news in a brief post on social media, saying he would "be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter" and confirming he will not tee it up at the Masters next week. He offered no additional details, keeping the focus squarely on his family, as reported by Reuters.
Tiger Woods also out
Mickelson's absence comes on the heels of Tiger Woods announcing earlier this week that he is stepping away to seek treatment following a rollover crash and a DUI charge. The result is a milestone few golf fans expected to see so soon: for the first time since 1994, neither Woods nor Mickelson will be in the Masters field, according to The Washington Post.
Where Mickelson stood
Mickelson is a six-time major winner and a three-time Masters champion, with green jackets from 2004, 2006 and 2010 that cemented his place among the sport's elite. He had already missed the early LIV Golf events this season while tending to the same family matter, then returned at LIV South Africa, where he finished in a tie for 48th, per CBS Sports.
What this means for the field
With two of the game's defining figures out of the picture, the story at Augusta shifts quickly to the contenders who are still in. Younger players suddenly see more daylight on the leaderboard, and the LIV Golf contingent remains very much a part of the conversation. Ten LIV golfers are scheduled to compete, including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, a group detailed by Field Level Media.
Augusta National responds
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said the club "knows how much Phil loves The Masters" and noted that officials have offered Mickelson their "complete support" as he steps back to be with his family, CBS Sports reports. Mickelson has not provided further comment and has asked for privacy while he is away from competition.
The Masters is scheduled for April 9–12, and tournament organizers now move ahead without one of Augusta's signature stars in the mix. As the golf world turns its attention to the first major of the year, fans and fellow players have taken to social media with messages of support, a response that highlights how quickly real life can overshadow even the sport's grandest stage, as outlined on Golf.com.
