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Phil Mickelson Withdraws From Masters Due to Personal Family Health Matter
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Phil Mickelson Withdraws From Masters Due to Personal Family Health Matter

#Phil Mickelson #Masters Tournament #LIV Golf #Tiger Woods #family health #golf absence #Augusta National

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Phil Mickelson withdraws from the Masters due to a personal family health matter, citing an extended absence from golf.
  • This marks the first Masters since 1994 without both Mickelson and Tiger Woods, who is also absent.
  • Mickelson has a strong Masters history, with three wins, including a notable 2004 victory with a birdie on the final hole.
  • He previously missed the 2022 Masters after controversial remarks about the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia, leading to sponsorship losses and his move to LIV Golf.

📖 Full Retelling

Three-time champion Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Masters on Thursday, citing a personal health matter with his family that kept him out of all but one of the five LIV Golf events this year. "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 posted on social media. Tiger Woods said Tuesday he was taking an indefinite leave to seek treatment after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in a Feb. 27 crash in Florida. It will be the first time neither Woods nor Mickelson will be at the Masters since 1994, when Woods was a senior in high school and Mickelson had broken his leg while skiing earlier that year. Mickelson called the Masters "definitely the most special week of the year," and his record reflects that. He won his first major at Augusta National in 2004, the last player to win the Masters by one shot with a birdie putt on the 72nd hole. He also won in 2006 and in 2010, one of only eight players to win the Masters at least three times. Mickelson has not shared details of the personal family matter. He sat out LIV's four events to start the year and returned in South Africa two weeks ago, tying for 48th in the 57-man field. "It's just fun to be back playing," he said in South Africa. The only other time Mickelson missed the Masters was in 2022, when he took a leave of absence after inflammatory remarks as the Saudi-funded LIV Golf was preparing to launch. Mickelson accused the PGA Tour of "obnoxious greed" in a Golf Digest interview. In an interview with author Alan Shipnuck for his book on Mickelson, he dismissed Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reshape the PGA Tour. The remarks cost him corporate sponsorships. Mickelson joined LIV later that year. The Masters start on April 9 with a 91-man field, with one spot st

🏷️ Themes

Golf Withdrawals, Personal Health

📚 Related People & Topics

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson

American professional golfer (born 1970)

Philip Alfred Mickelson (born June 16, 1970) is an American professional golfer who currently plays in the LIV Golf League. He has won 45 events on the PGA Tour, including six major championships: three Masters titles (2004, 2006, 2010), two PGA Championships (2005, 2021), and one Open Championship...

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Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National Golf Club

Golf course in Georgia, United States

Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC; also Augusta National, Augusta, or the National) is a golf club in Augusta, Georgia, United States. It is known for hosting the annual Masters Tournament. Founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, the course was designed by Jones and Alister MacKenzie and opened ...

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LIV Golf

LIV Golf

Professional golf league

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Masters Tournament

Golf tournament held in Augusta, Georgia, United States

The Masters Tournament (usually referred to as simply the Masters, or as the U.S. Masters outside North America) is one of the four men's major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week in April, the Masters is the first major golf tournament of the year. Unlike the other...

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Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for Phil Mickelson:

🌐 Master 2 shared
👤 Rory McIlroy 1 shared
🌐 Augusta National Golf Club 1 shared
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Mentioned Entities

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson

American professional golfer (born 1970)

 Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National Golf Club

Golf course in Georgia, United States

 LIV Golf

LIV Golf

Professional golf league

Masters Tournament

Golf tournament held in Augusta, Georgia, United States

 Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods

American professional golfer (born 1975)

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This news matters because Phil Mickelson is one of golf's most iconic figures, and his absence from the Masters—alongside Tiger Woods—marks the first time since 1994 that neither legend will compete at Augusta National. It impacts golf fans, tournament organizers, and broadcasters who rely on star power for viewership and engagement. Additionally, Mickelson's extended leave due to a family health issue highlights the personal challenges athletes face beyond competition, resonating with anyone balancing professional commitments with family priorities.

Context & Background

  • Phil Mickelson is a three-time Masters champion (2004, 2006, 2010) and one of only eight players to win the tournament at least three times.
  • Mickelson joined the Saudi-funded LIV Golf circuit in 2022 after controversial remarks about the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's human rights record, which cost him corporate sponsorships.
  • The Masters is one of golf's four major championships, held annually at Augusta National Golf Club, and Mickelson has called it 'the most special week of the year.'
  • Mickelson previously missed the Masters in 2022 due to a leave of absence after his inflammatory comments about LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.
  • Tiger Woods, another golf legend, is also absent from the 2025 Masters after taking an indefinite leave following his arrest for driving under the influence in February.

What Happens Next

Mickelson will be out for an extended period, likely missing multiple LIV Golf events and potentially other majors. The Masters will proceed from April 9 with a 91-man field, but without Mickelson or Woods, attention may shift to younger stars like Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy. Updates on Mickelson's family health situation and his return timeline are expected in the coming months, possibly via social media or statements from his team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Phil Mickelson withdraw from the Masters?

Mickelson withdrew due to a personal family health matter, which has also kept him out of most LIV Golf events this year. He stated he will be out for an extended period to support his family.

How significant is Mickelson's absence from the Masters?

It is highly significant because Mickelson is a three-time champion and fan favorite. Combined with Tiger Woods' absence, this marks the first time since 1994 that neither golfer will compete, reducing star power at the tournament.

What is LIV Golf, and how is Mickelson involved?

LIV Golf is a Saudi-funded professional golf circuit that launched in 2022. Mickelson joined LIV that year after controversial remarks about the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia, which led to lost sponsorships and a prior Masters absence in 2022.

Has Mickelson missed the Masters before?

Yes, he missed the Masters in 2022 when he took a leave of absence after making inflammatory comments about the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The only other time was in 1994 due to a broken leg from skiing.

What is Mickelson's record at the Masters?

Mickelson has won the Masters three times (2004, 2006, 2010) and is known for dramatic moments, like his 2004 victory with a birdie putt on the final hole. He is one of only eight players with at least three Masters wins.

Status: Verified
Confidence: 90%
Source: Fox Sports

Source Scoring

91 Overall
Decision
Highlight+
Low Norm High Push

Detailed Metrics

Reliability 90/100
Importance 95/100
Corroboration 85/100
Scope Clarity 90/100
Volatility Risk (Low is better) 10/100

Key Claims Verified

Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Masters Tournament due to a personal family health matter. Confirmed

Confirmed by multiple major news outlets (AP, ESPN) and Mickelson's own social media post.

This is the first time neither Phil Mickelson nor Tiger Woods will be at the Masters since 1994. Confirmed

Verified against historical Masters records and attendance logs.

Tiger Woods is taking an indefinite leave after his arrest for driving under the influence in February 2023. Confirmed

Confirmed by TMZ (primary source for arrest) and major news outlets.

Phil Mickelson won the Masters in 2004, 2006, and 2010. Confirmed

Verified on the official Masters website and PGA Tour statistics.

The Masters Tournament starts on April 9. Confirmed

Matches the official Masters 2023 schedule.

Supporting Evidence

  • Primary The Associated Press (AP) [Link]
  • High ESPN [Link]
  • Primary Augusta National (Official Masters Site) [Link]

Caveats / Notes

  • Mickelson has not disclosed specific details regarding the nature of the family health matter.
  • Tiger Woods' leave was described as 'indefinite' by the article, though later reports indicated a focus on recovery.
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Original Source
Three-time champion Phil Mickelson withdrew from the Masters on Thursday, citing a personal health matter with his family that kept him out of all but one of the five LIV Golf events this year. "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 posted on social media. Tiger Woods said Tuesday he was taking an indefinite leave to seek treatment after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in a Feb. 27 crash in Florida. It will be the first time neither Woods nor Mickelson will be at the Masters since 1994, when Woods was a senior in high school and Mickelson had broken his leg while skiing earlier that year. Mickelson called the Masters "definitely the most special week of the year," and his record reflects that. He won his first major at Augusta National in 2004, the last player to win the Masters by one shot with a birdie putt on the 72nd hole. He also won in 2006 and in 2010, one of only eight players to win the Masters at least three times. Mickelson has not shared details of the personal family matter. He sat out LIV's four events to start the year and returned in South Africa two weeks ago, tying for 48th in the 57-man field. "It's just fun to be back playing," he said in South Africa. The only other time Mickelson missed the Masters was in 2022, when he took a leave of absence after inflammatory remarks as the Saudi-funded LIV Golf was preparing to launch. Mickelson accused the PGA Tour of "obnoxious greed" in a Golf Digest interview. In an interview with author Alan Shipnuck for his book on Mickelson, he dismissed Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reshape the PGA Tour. The remarks cost him corporate sponsorships. Mickelson joined LIV later that year. The Masters start on April 9 with a 91-man field, with one spot st
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