Phil Mickelson to miss Masters, extended period with a ‘personal health matter'

Phil Mickelson will miss the 2026 Masters. Getty Images The Masters will be missing two of the biggest stars of the 21st century. On Thursday afternoon, Phil Mickelson announced that he would not play at Augusta National next week, missing golf’s first major for just the fourth time in 36 tries since his first start as a 20-year-old in 1991 — and just the second time since the turn of the century.

Mickelson did not disclose the full reason for his absence from the event, saying only that he would not be competing while working through a personal health matter. The six-time major champ already missed a chunk of the season on LIV with the same reasoning. He has not commented publicly about the nature of the health matter.

“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,” Mickelson wrote in a statement posted to his Instagram account. “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.

” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Phil Mickelson (@philmickelson) Mickelson, 55, joins Tiger Woods as star players who will be absent this year at Augusta National. Woods announced Tuesday he would be “stepping away” while he seeks treatment following a DUI crash last week in Florida. The two golfers have never missed the Masters in the same season since the beginning of Woods’ Masters career in 1996.