For three decades now, Phil Mickelson’s name has become synonymous with golf season’s first major championship at Augusta. In his 33 appearances, the three-time Masters champion has only missed it once– to protest against LIV Golfers’ treatment in 2022. However, this year has already been difficult for him.

After missing the first four LIV Golf events, he made his debut at LIV South Africa, the final stop before the Masters next week. But he has now withdrawn from the Masters, and Augusta National’s chairman, Fred Ridley, made clear how much his absence will be felt.

“We know how much Phil loves the Masters Tournament, and he will be missed by everyone in Augusta next week,” Ridley wrote in a statement hours after Mickelson confirmed his withdrawal. “He has our complete support as he takes time to be with his family.”

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While the golf veteran has missed many events this season, he has not yet revealed what exactly is keeping him away from the sport. However, he has hinted that it is a family emergency requiring his wife, Amy. He will also be missing the reigning winner Rory McIlroy’s Champion’s Dinner on Tuesday.

“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. I have great respect for Augusta National Golf Club and it is definitely the most special week of the year,” Mickelson wrote while WD from the Masters.

Phil Mickelson’s missing the Masters is not just another withdrawal. He is a three-time champion (2004, 2006, 2010) with 16 top-10 finishes across more than 30 starts, a scoring average of 71.44, and one of the most celebrated short games the tournament has ever seen. His 2004 win, sealed with a 15-foot birdie on the 72nd hole, his dominant back-nine performance in 2006, and his bogey-free final round of 67 in 2010 are all etched into Masters history. Moreover, how recently he competed at the highest level makes his absence even more noticeable.

Phil Mickelson tied for second place at Augusta in 2023 after a final-round 65 at 52. He was the oldest player to finish in the top five. In 2024, he finished T43, and this year he finished at T48 in LIV SA.

He dropped out just two days after Tiger Woods confirmed his exit after his rollover car crash. Ridley reacted to that, too, saying that Augusta National fully supports Woods as he focuses on his health. He also said that Woods would not be there in person but that his presence would still be felt at Augusta.

This will be the first Masters since 1994 that Woods and Phil Mickelson are absent from the field. Woods dropped out after being arrested for DUI on March 27. Five days later, the five-time Masters champion said he would be getting help.

While the veterans are withdrawing, a fresh wave of debutants is bringing new energy to Augusta.

15 Masters debutants who could make noise at Augusta this week

Jacob Bridgeman earned his invite the hard way– winning the Genesis Invitational for his first PGA Tour title. First-time winners getting Augusta invitations is always a moment, and Bridgeman arriving as a maiden major debutant carries genuine weight.

Chris Gotterup and Tom McKibbin took the international route, winning the Scottish Open and Hong Kong Open, respectively, to punch their tickets. Marco Penge won the Spanish Open, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen the Australian Open, and Naoyuki Kataoka the Japan Open.

Five players, Michael Brennan, Ryan Gerard, Johnny Keefer, Kristoffer Reitan, Sam Stevens, and Sami Valimaki, earned their spots by climbing into the world’s top 50.

Ben Griffin, Harry Hall, and Andrew Novak qualified through Tour Championship eligibility, meaning they competed deep into last season and held their form long enough to earn a spot here. For all fifteen debutants, Augusta on Thursday morning will be unlike anything they have experienced before.