Aaron Wise withdraws from Masters to focus on mental health

Former PGA Tour ‘Rookie of the Year’ Aaron Wise has withdrawn from The Masters to focus on his mental health.

The 26-year-old South Africa-born American made the announcement on social media.

“Regretfully, I am withdrawing from The Masters today,” he wrote. “Golf is just as much a mental game as it is one of physical skill, and the mental piece of it has been a struggle for me recently.

• Gary Player hits out at Augusta National

• 8 Masters debutants ready to break ‘curse’

“I don’t take the significance of playing at Augusta lightly, but know that I need to take some time away to focus on my mental health so I can get back to competing at a level I am proud of.”

Wise, the world No.45, won his maiden PGA Tour title at the AT&T Byron Nelson Championship during his rookie season in 2018.

However, he has missed the cut in four of his last five strokeplay events and failed to qualify out of his group at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship.

He has played in The Masters once previously, in 2019, when he finished 17th – his best result to date in 11 major starts.

• All 18 LIV golfers who’ll be at The Masters 

• Bryson: Tiger Woods has cut me off 

His withdrawal reduces the total number of players in next week’s Masters field to 88.

One more spot remains for the winner of this week’s Valero Texas Open.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor