This year’s Masters will be the first one since 1994 when neither Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson has played at Augusta National. Woods and Mickelson were both expected to play at The Masters but that all changed over the past week.
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This year’s Masters will be the first one since 1994 when neither Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson has played at Augusta National.
Woods and Mickelson were both expected to play at The Masters but that all changed over the past week.
The 15-time major champion pulled out after his DUI arrest 11 days ago, while the 55-year-old Californian has a family health matter he needs to take care of.
Woods has won The Masters five times while Mickelson has three green jackets to his name.
While Woods and Mickelson won’t be in the field this week, another Masters champion, Patrick Reed, will be at Augusta National looking to win a green jacket for the second time.
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Reed hit the headlines earlier this year when he left LIV Golf, with a return to the PGA Tour on the cards for him in August.
The 35-year-old American has been in great form heading into Augusta National but does he feel like some magic has been taken away from The Masters this year without Woods and Mickelson being in the field?
Patrick Reed’s opinion on Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson missing The Masters
Mickelson’s withdrawal from The Masters last week was met with real sadness by the vast majority of golf fans.
Woods’ absence is slightly different because it’s clear that he needs to focus on his recovery right now.
And it must be a really strange feeling for the players this week without either of the golfers who have eight green jackets between them in attendance.
During his press conference on Monday, Reed was asked how he feels about neither Tiger or Phil being at Augusta National this year.
“With Tiger, I think everyone is probably in the same boat, that they’re just very grateful that he’s okay and that everyone else that was involved is okay,“ Reed said.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
“Hopefully he’s able to kind of get a speedy recovery and get back here to golf as fast as he can.
“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.
“But at the same time, we want them to come back and be healthy and ready to go.“
Not having either of the two legends play in The Masters for the first time in 32 years will definitely impact the tournament in a negative way.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson’s records at The Masters
Woods has won The Masters five times, while Mickelson has reigned supreme on three occasions.
Tiger has 12 top-5s and 14 top-10s to his name at The Masters.
Meanwhile, Mickelson has the same amount of top-5s as Woods at Augusta, but he has two more top-10 finishes than his rival.
Mickelson has made 28 cuts in 32 Masters appearances while Woods only missed out on weekend golf once in the 26 times he played at Augusta National.
There aren’t many players who possess better records at The Masters than Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
And whatever you think of the two golfers as human beings, it’s a real shame that neither of them will be in attendance at Augusta National this year.
