Augusta National is missing two of its biggest stars. For the first time since 1994, neither Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson is in the field. Fellow champion Patrick Reed addressed the massive void their absence leaves.

During the press conference at Augusta on Monday, Reed revealed that their absence impacts more than just the tournament.

“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,” said the 2018 Masters winner.

Tiger Woods withdrew from the 2026 Masters after a March 27 rollover crash and a DUI charge. “I’m committed to taking the time needed to return to a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally," he said after the incident.

Woods was planning to make his return after recovering from an Achilles tendon injury in March 2025 and later underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery in October.

Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson’s season had also been limited before his withdrawal. He missed the opening four LIV Golf events and made a single start in South Africa, where he finished tied for 48th. 

Mickelson’s schedule had already shifted around a personal family health matter, and then on April 2, he confirmed that he would step away from the Masters for an extended period.

“Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter,” said the 6-time major winner in a statement.

Patrick Reed on Tiger Woods’ recovery

“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 during the presser.

Things seemed to be heading in the right direction before the incident in Florida. Woods returned to competition in March at the TGL indoor final with Jupiter Links, which was his first competitive round since the 2024 British Open.

"Hopefully, he's able to kind of get a speedy recovery and get back here to golf as fast as he can,” Reed added.

However, the fact that the 15-time major winner also declined the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy could mean that he'll be away from the green for a while.

So what does Woods' and Mickelson's absence mean for this year’s Masters? Do you agree with Patrick Reed? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi