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Woods, Mickelson and the Biggest Storylines as 2026 Masters Nears

Originally posted on Trade Talk Sports | By Jim Parsons | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 5:08 PM ET

As the 2026 Masters Tournament gets underway on Thursday, there are some fairly significant news developments shaking up the golfing world. Tiger Woods is out thanks to another DUI incident. Now, Phil Mickelson is out too, withdrawing just a week before the first tee shot. Collin Morikawa is a maybe and more.

Tiger Woods’ DUI Arrest and Indefinite Absence

The dominant headline in golf is that Tiger Woods is taking an indefinite leave from golf. He will miss the 2026 Masters entirely. On March 27, Woods was involved in a rollover crash near his Jupiter Island, Florida home. He was arrested on charges of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Police found hydrocodone pills in his pocket, and he told officers he was looking at his phone before the crash.

Woods announced he is “stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health.” He plans to enter treatment at a facility outside the U.S. and has requested privacy for his family.

Augusta National confirmed he will not be present, even for the Champions Dinner. This marks the second straight year without Tiger at Augusta.

Phil Mickelson Is Out

Phil Mickelson was set to play in the Masters but is no longer attending. He posted a statement on Thursday, noting:

“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.” He added, “I have great respect for Augusta National Golf Club, and it’s definitely the most special week of the year. I wish everyone the best of luck, and I will be watching.“

Will Collin Morikawa Play?

Collin Morikawa is currently in the 2026 Masters field, but his participation is uncertain due to a back injury. He pulled out of the Valero Texas Open.

He remains listed as an invitee on the official Masters.com field page and is making what would be his seventh appearance at Augusta National.

He first suffered the injury during The Players Championship in mid-March, where he withdrew after just one hole. He has not played any competitive rounds since that early withdrawal and will head to Augusta without a recent tune-up if he plays.

Morikawa has never missed a cut in six prior Masters starts (with three top-10s, including a T3 in 2024), which is why he’s still expected to try to play. No official withdrawal from the Masters has been announced yet.

LIV vs. the PGA

LIV Golf will have roughly a dozen players in the field, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Dustin Johnson. The battle between the two leagues isn’t as fierce as it was previously, but there’s still a division.

Will a LIV player outperform the PGA players? Can Rory McIlroy repeat as defending champion?

Rory finally completed the career Grand Slam with his emotional 2025 Masters win. He will try to become the first player since Tiger (2001-02) to win back-to-back green jackets.

This article first appeared on Trade Talk Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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