Phil Mickelson spent decades as a familiar presence in golf’s major championship season. Through injuries, slumps, and late-career uncertainty, he had never missed all four men’s majors in one year as a professional. That streak has now ended.
For the first time in his pro career, Mickelson will miss the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship in the same year. His absence has been tied to an unspecified family health matter, while separate off-course reports have added more attention around his extended break from competition.
The streak that defined a legend
For more than three decades, Mickelson remained part of major-championship season almost every year. He did not play every individual major in that span, but he consistently found his way into at least one of golf’s biggest events.
That steady presence made him a fixture during the sport’s biggest weeks. Even in lean years without a trophy, Mickelson usually showed up somewhere on the major calendar. This year marks the first time as a professional that he will miss all four men’s majors in the same season.
How Mickelson built his major résumé
Mickelson turned professional in 1992 after a standout amateur career at Arizona State. His first major title arrived at the 2004 Masters, ending years of near misses. He went on to win 6 majors, including 3 Masters titles, 2 PGA Championship titles, and 1 Open Championship.
His 2013 Open win at Muirfield remains one of his signature moments. He entered the final round 5 shots behind Lee Westwood, closed with a 66, and won the Claret Jug by 3 shots. That victory kept him exempt for The Open through age 60, which makes his current absence more notable for longtime fans.
Fun fact: Mickelson is naturally right-handed. He plays golf left-handed simply because he learned the game by mirroring his father’s swing as a toddler.
The first signs of trouble in 2026
Trouble first surfaced early this year, well before the Open decision arrived. Mickelson skipped LIV Golf’s season opener in Saudi Arabia entirely, citing a private family health matter involving his wife, Amy. He played just one competitive event all season, finishing tied for 48 at LIV’s South Africa stop.
The Masters came next in April, and Mickelson withdrew quietly from that as well. He said publicly he would be away from competition for an extended period. Golf fans used to seeing him at Augusta every spring instead watched a major unfold without golf’s most animated shot maker in decades.
Off-course allegations cloud the narrative
While Mickelson attended to his family matter, other stories about him began circulating quietly. Reports indicated he was no longer a member of his hometown club, the Farms, near San Diego. A female employee there accused him of nonconsensual, inappropriate contact before a scheduled round, according to multiple published reports.
Mickelson declined to address the allegations directly himself. A spokesperson said any misunderstanding had since been cleared up, while his attorney pushed back against what he called false rumors circulating online. Separate reports also detailed other unwanted advances toward women, adding real pressure to an already complicated year for Lefty.
The Open Championship snub confirmed
The final confirmation came when Mickelson’s name quietly disappeared from The Open Championship’s official competitor list without much warning. Tournament organizers moved him into the non-playing category of exempt past champions instead. The Open runs July 16 through 19 at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, a course he knows well.
Despite remaining eligible through his 2013 win, Mickelson chose not to use that exemption this year at all. It confirmed what many had already suspected since the spring. For the first time in his professional life, he will watch all four men’s majors from somewhere other than the golf course.
Comparing this drought to golf history
Missing one major is common even for great champions, especially when dealing with injury or slumps. Missing all four in one season is far rarer for a player of Mickelson’s stature. The last time he skipped every major came in 1990, two years before he officially turned professional and joined the tour.
That makes this drought 36 years in the making, a gap almost unthinkable for someone with six major titles. Even during rough patches earlier in his career, Mickelson always found a way into at least one major field. This year breaks that pattern completely, closing an unusually long chapter.
The road ahead for Lefty
Mickelson has given no firm timeline for a competitive return, either professionally or personally, so far. His camp has said he remains uncertain when he will play again at any level. LIV Golf’s season continues without its most recognizable American face, leaving a noticeable gap in the tour’s marketing and storylines.
Whether Mickelson returns for next year’s majors remains an open question that golf fans will be watching closely. His Open exemption remains valid until he turns sixty, giving him several more chances if he chooses to use them. For now, golf simply waits to see what Lefty decides to do next.
Fun fact: Mickelson’s trademark “thumbs up” to the crowd after a great shot has become one of the most recognizable gestures in golf.
TL;DR
- Mickelson will miss all 4 men’s majors in one year for the first time in his professional career.
- The Open’s official list places him among exempt players who either did not enter or withdrew.
- He has cited an unspecified family health matter during his extended absence.
- He skipped the Masters and the PGA Championship and was not extended a special invitation to the U.S. Open.
- The last time he missed every major was 1990, before he turned professional.
- His return date to competitive golf remains unknown.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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