Phil Mickelson will not be part of the 2026 Masters, with the three-time champion confirming that he is stepping away from golf for some time due to a family health matter. He shared the update on Thursday, April 2, just a week before the tournament at Augusta National.
Mickelson shared the update in a post on X, where he explained why he won’t be playing and said he needs time away from the game.
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“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.
“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.”
This will be one of the few times Mickelson is not part of the Masters. He has played the event regularly since the mid-1990s and has only missed it a few times since making his debut in 1991. His last absence came in 2022 during the period when he stayed away from the game following controversy around his comments on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
The 55-year-old has also had a disrupted start to the 2026 season. He missed the first four LIV Golf events earlier this year due to the same family health matter. He returned to action at Steyn City in South Africa last month and finished tied for 48th.
Phil Mickelson has enjoyed great success at Augusta, winning the Masters three times in 2004, 2006, and 2010. Only Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer have won the tournament more times. His absence this year also means that both Mickelson and Woods will not be in the field, something that has not happened at the Masters in decades.
Phil Mickelson’s record at Augusta shows what the Masters will miss
Phil Mickelson was set to make his 33rd start at the Masters this year, which shows how regularly he has been part of the event. Over that time, he has put together one of the strongest records in the tournament.
Apart from his three wins at the Masters, he has been in contention many times beyond that. He has 16 top-10 finishes at Augusta, second only to Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan, along with 12 top-five results. His scoring average at the course stands at 71.44 over 120 rounds, which remains under par.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley also spoke about his absence and said:
“We know how much Phil loves the Masters Tournament, and he will be missed by everyone in Augusta next week. He has our complete support as he takes time to be with his family.”
Even in recent years, Phil Mickelson has stayed in contention at Augusta. He finished tied for second in 2023 behind Jon Rahm and had earlier close calls with a tied-third finish in 2012 and another runner-up finish in 2015. His last appearance, however, ended in a missed cut, and he also finished tied for 43rd in 2024.
Edited by Sonali Verma