Augusta, GA. The luster for the 2026 Masters is now impacted by two noteworthy past champions who will not be present at Augusta this year.
It came as no surprise that when Tiger Woods was arrested for the second time on March 27 that his presence in the field was not going to happen. The 15-time major champion caused a two-vehicle crash in Jupiter Island not far from where he lives and is now facing charge of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. He passed a breath test but refused to submit to a urinalysis. A search of Woods’ pocket found two pills revealed to be hydrocodone, a strong opioid painkiller.
Even prior to that development, the speculation that Woods would return to play for the first time since 2024 was highly problematic even though Tiger would definitively not rule out such a happening.
The Woods record in major championship play since donning a fifth green jacket with his amazing win in 2019 is a litany of missed cuts, withdrawals and only one finish in the top 25 coming at the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach.
Woods did play in a TGL event for his Jupiter team just days prior to his arrest and the participation rekindled interest that Tiger would return to competitive action at Augusta.
Then just a few days later (March 27) Woods flipped his SUV when hitting a vehicle on a local street near his home on Jupiter Island. Arrested for the second time – again with the charge of driving under the influence (DUI).
Tiger’s team then petitioned a Florida judge for permission to leave the United States for “comprehensive inpatient treatment.” The court accepted that inpatient, out of country treatment is “medically necessary” to ensure privacy. According to a report from The Palm Beach Post, his private jet landed in Switzerland.
What the future holds for Woods in terms of elite level competition seems highly problematic till legal proceedings conclude and if the treatment he is seeking can have a clear purpose producing meaningful and helpful outcomes.
Prior to the second arrest, Woods had filed an application to play in this year’s US Senior Open. The 50-year-old is now eligible to play in Champions Tour events if he desires to do so.
Woods has not closed the door in returning to elite level play — most notably in the major championships. However, his last competitive appearance came in the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.
Mickelson announced his decision not to play in this year’s Masters just a few days after Woods withdrew. A three-time winner (2004, 2006 and 2010) of the green jacket, Mickelson indicated in a statement that he plans to step away for an extended period — “as my family navigates a personal health matter.” The statement did not elaborate further.
Mickelson has also missed four of five LIV Golf events he was scheduled to play. The lone event came in South Africa recently. The last time Mickelson missed being at Augusta was 1995 when he broke his leg in a March skiing accident.
The 55-year-old Mickelson has won six major championships — including becoming the oldest player to win a major at the 2021 PGA Championship. He also finished runner-up at Augusta in 2023 and concluded play with a superlative round of 65. He has played in the Masters 31 times, making the cut 28 times along with 16 top-ten placements.
His statement added, “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.”
Collectively Woods and Mickelson have won 8 Masters. The golf skills each provided will now reside in the memory banks as the 2026 event begins without two of the most prominent players in golf history on the sidelines. Regrettably, likely their best days at Augusta are now in the rear-view mirror.
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