Phil Mickelson withdraws from Masters and confirms extended break from golf to deal with 'personal health matter'
Published 02/04/2026 at 21:34 GMT+1
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With Tiger Woods absent from the Masters, the opening major of the year has been stripped of the winners of eight titles as Phil Mickelson has opted to withdraw. The 2004, 2006 and 2010 winner has confirmed he will be taking an extended break from golf as his "family continues to navigate a personal health matter". Mickelson has played one of the first five LIV Golf events this season.
Highlights: DeChambeau beats Rahm in play-off
Video credit: TNT Sports
Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from the Masters and confirmed he would be taking an extended break from golf as his "family continues to navigate a personal health matter".
Mickelson missed the first four LIV Golf events of the current season in Riyadh, Adelaide, Hong Kong and Singapore before returning for the tournament in South Africa.
The 55-year-old looked extremely rusty at The Club at Steyn City and finished in a tie for 48th place behind Bryson DeChambeau who celebrated victory for the second week in a row.
There is now a break in the 2026 LIV Golf schedule before the action resumes in Mexico on April 16.
That event at Club de Golf Chapultepec on the outskirts of Mexico City follows on from the opening major of the season at Augusta National next week.
As a three-time winner of the Masters, Mickelson receives automatic entry. But he will not be in action in Georgia when play gets underway on April 9, with the American confirming he will be absent to deal with a personal health issue.
”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,” he wrote on social media.
”I have great respect for Augusta National Golf Club and it is definitely the most special week of the year. I wish everyone the best of luck and will be watching.”
With Tiger Woods also absent from the opening major of the year following his arrest after a crash crash in Florida, the Masters will be without the winners of eight green jackets between them.
It will also be the first time since 1994 that the Masters will take place without Woods or Mickelson in the field.
As well as winning the Masters three times, Mickelson has an impressive record at Augusta.
Along with his wins in 2004, 2006 and 2010, Mickelson has 13 other top-10 finishes - the latest when he secured a tie for second behind fellow LIV Golf star Jon Rahm in 2023.
- Woods turns down Ryder Cup captaincy as bodycam footage of crash released
- LIV Golf South Africa recap - DeChambeau beats Rahm in play-off to go back-to-back
Rory McIlroy will tee it up at Augusta as the defending champion, after completing the career grand slam 12 months ago.
The Northern Irishman celebrated his win at Augusta by posting a picture of himself at the Giant’s Causeway wearing his green jacket alongside the Masters Trophy, Open Championship Claret Jug, US PGA trophy and US Open trophy.
”As a kid growing up in Northern Ireland, I dreamed of winning all four majors. Being able to bring these trophies home was truly surreal,” McIlroy wrote on social media.
McIlroy has been nursing a back injury in the early part of the 2026 season, but there is no indication that he will miss the Masters.
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Watch and stream the 2026 LIV Golf season live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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