Phil Mickelson a doubt for the Masters

Phil Mickelson is the latest high-profile player at risk of missing the Masters after withdrawing from the Valero Texas Open with a pulled muscle in his side.

Mickelson, three times a winner at Augusta National, joins world No.1 Tiger Woods and WGC-Accenture Matchplay champion Jason Day in running the risk of missing the opening major of the season, which tees off a week on Thursday.

The left-hander managed ten holes of his third round at TPC San Antonio over the weekend before being forced to walk off the course. At present, he is still in the field to play the Shell Houston Open this week but it is unclear at this stage if he will make it.

In a statement, the 43-year-old said: “I pulled a muscle on my downswing trying to hit it hard on the first hole . It just killed and it wouldn’t subside for ten or 12 seconds.

“I’m going back to San Diego for a couple of days and will have a doctor look at it but there’s really not much you can do for a pulled muscle. I hope I’ll be OK to play the Shell in Houston, but I just don’t know.”

Phil Mickelson has been an ever-present at Augusta since 1995, winning three times and racking up 11 other top ten finishes.

Mickelson pulled out of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines earlier this year with a back injury, raising fears that he had aggravated it at San Antonio. However, his caddie, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, was quick to allay those concerns. He told the Associated Press: “It’s definitely not his back. It’s his right side. The thing he had been talking about is how good his back had been feeling here. He’ll definitely play Houston, if he can.”

The Masters Tournament Committee will be hoping that Phil Mickelson’s latest injury won’t force him to miss their tournament. He has been an ever-present at Augusta since 1995, winning three times and racking up 11 other top ten finishes along the way.

Tiger Woods is struggling to be fit for the tournament, after being forced to sit out his most recent tournament, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with ongoing back spasms, whilst Jason Day also sat that event out with a thumb injury.

Phil Mickelson: Will he make Augusta?

Do you think Phil Mickelson will be fit enough to play at Augusta? If he does, do you think he can add a fourth Green Jacket to his wardrobe? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

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