.jpg)
2 hours ago
3
The 90th edition of the Masters will look much different than usual, as both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will not be on hand to participate.
Winners of eight combined green jackets, Woods and Mickelson are each in the rare group of player's who've won this tournament three times, becoming mainstays on the leaderboard. Now that both have gotten older, age and off-course issues are more in play as they decide whether to participate.
While neither Woods nor Mickelson would be expected to compete this year, it will be noticeable that both players are absent at golf's first major. In fact, this is something that hasn't happened at Augusta National in over three decades.
Here's a look at the streak that Woods and Mickelson are breaking by not starting the Masters this year.
MORE MASTERS 2026:
- Ranking the 30 best golfers in this year's Masters
- Odds, betting favorites, expert picks for the 2026 Masters
- Complete list of golfers playing in the Masters
When was the last Masters without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson?
The last time that both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson missed the Masters together was in 1994, when Woods was 19 and Mickelson was 23. At the time, Woods was a year away from making his Masters debut, and Mickelson had made two starts but failed to qualify for the 1994 event.
Including this year, Woods has missed seven Masters since 1994, all coming since 2014, while Mickelson has missed the event just twice, once in 2020 and again in 2022. The Masters invites all of their previous champions to compete, so once Woods and Mickelson won their first green jackets, they both became eligible to return to August every year to participate in the tournament.
For over two decades, Woods and Mickelson were staples in the Masters winning a combined eight green jackets and finishing within the top five another 14 times. Golfers will surely feel their absences on over the first two days.
"Let's be honest, without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the events, in golf, when they both step away, honestly I feel it hurts the game of golf," Patrick Reed said, via ESPN. "But at the same time, we want them to come back and be healthy and ready to go."
Who won the 1994 Masters?
Jose Maria Olazabal won his first Masters in 1994, beating out Tom Lehman and Larry Mize for the green jacket. Olazabal had a slow start, as he was +2 after the first round, but shot a 11-under in the final three rounds to win by two strokes on Sunday.
This turned out to be one of Olazabal's two majors, as he also won the 1999 Masters, and he became the second Spaniard to win the Masters and fourth overall, joining Seve Ballasteros and later followed by Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm.
While Woods and Mickelson will not tee it up in the 2026 Masters, Olazabal will for his 37th career start at the tournament.
Two-time @TheMasters champion José María Olazábal is making his 37th start at Augusta National this week! pic.twitter.com/Tr0mPtlzYs
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) April 6, 2026Why is Tiger Woods not at the 2026 Masters?
Tiger Woods announced he is taking an indefinite leave from golf last week after he was arrested for his role in a rollover crash. Among Woods' charges was DUI, as this was the fourth known time that he was involved in a car crash.
Woods announced that he would seek treatment that prioritizes his health moving forward, which means not participating in tournaments.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 31, 2026Last year, Woods missed the Masters due to an Achilles injury, and he hasn't played in a golf tournament since the 2024 British Open. That year, Woods played in five tournaments, including all four majors, but missed the cut in the last three while finishing tied for 60th at the Masters.
Woods has now missed seven of the last 13 Masters, and his win in 2019 is his only finish within the top 20 since 2015.
Why is Phil Mickelson not at the 2026 Masters?
On April 2, Phil Mickelson announced he was taking an extended absence to deal with a "personal health matter" in his family. Mickelson didn't give more information beyond that, as he appears to want to keep it private.
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) April 2, 2026Mickelson, who currently plays on the LIV Tour, last played in the LIV Golf South Africa from Mach 19-22, finishing tied-for-48th among 57 golfers. However, earlier this year, Mickelson missed four LIV Golf tournaments due to a personal matter as well.
🚨👍🏌️ #BACK — Phil Mickelson is back after missing 4 LIV events due to personal reasons. Phil will make his season debut at LIV Golf South Africa this week. pic.twitter.com/0DnnZUCxqn
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) March 16, 2026After participating in 25 consecutive Masters tournaments from 1995 to 2000, Mickelson how has now missed three of the last seven tournaments at Augusta National. Mickelson hasn't been much of a factor in recent Masters, as he hasn't finished in the top 20 since 2019.
Tiger Woods Masters results
| Year | Place |
| 2026 | DNP |
| 2025 | DNP |
| 2024 | 60 |
| 2023 | WD |
| 2022 | 47 |
| 2021 | DNP |
| 2020 | T-38 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2018 | T-32 |
| 2017 | DNP |
| 2016 | DNP |
| 2015 | T-17 |
| 2014 | DNP |
| 2013 | T-4 |
| 2012 | T-40 |
| 2011 | T-4 |
| 2010 | T-4 |
| 2009 | T-6 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2007 | T-2 |
| 2006 | T-3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2004 | T-22 |
| 2003 | T-14 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 1999 | T-18 |
| 1998 | T-8 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1996 | CUT |
| 1995 | T-41 |
Phil Mickelson Masters results
| Year | Place |
| 2026 | DNP |
| 2025 | CUT |
| 2024 | T-43 |
| 2023 | T-22 |
| 2022 | DNP |
| 2021 | T-55 |
| 2020 | DNP |
| 2019 | T-18 |
| 2018 | T-36 |
| 2017 | T-22 |
| 2016 | CUT |
| 2015 | T-2 |
| 2014 | CUT |
| 2013 | T-54 |
| 2012 | T-3 |
| 2011 | T-27 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2008 | T-5 |
| 2007 | T-24 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2000 | T-7 |
| 1999 | T-6 |
| 1998 | T-12 |
| 1997 | CUT |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 1995 | T-7 |
| 1994 | DNP |
| 1993 | T-34 |
| 1992 | DNP |
| 1991 | T-46 |
English (US)