The Northern Irishman’s triumph in 2025 saw him complete the career Grand Slam after more than a decade since his last major victory. Among the leading contenders in the field are favourite and two-time champion Scottie Scheffler, along with LIV Golf recruit Bryson DeChambeau. Ryder Cup stalwart Jon Rahm also returns, while Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka are chasing their first Masters titles. However, a considerable number of elite players are conspicuously absent from the Augusta start list. Perhaps the most prominent among those is Tiger Woods, who had been widely anticipated to mount some form of comeback at this year’s tournament.

Fellow golf icon and three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson will be absent from the competition after confirming he would withdraw from the event. The figurehead of LIV’s mass departure revealed a family health issue meant he would not feature among those teeing off on Thursday.

Last weekend saw a host of top names attempting to book their place at the Masters via the Valero Texas Open. Yet it was in San Antonio that they all came up short, as JJ Spaun, who was already exempt to play at Augusta, claimed the title.

Rickie Fowler was among those who required victory in the final pre-Masters competition but failed to deliver. He missed the cut alongside Tom Kim, confirming neither would feature in this weekend’s action.

Tony Finau is another Masters regular who will be missing for the first time since 2018. He joins Joaquin Niemann on the sidelines after the LIV Golf star failed to accumulate the required qualifying points, sitting out the tournament after five successive appearances in Georgia.

2026 Masters field and odds (as of April 6)