The 2014 Masters Tournament wasn’t a major competition the golf world had expected. With Tiger Woods out of the tournament for the first time since his debut, everybody expected to watch his professional rival, Phil Mickelson, shine. However, what actually happened was not what anybody would have anticipated.

It was the first time Mickelson had played on the Augusta National without having his all-time rival to challenge him since 1995. Woods had to miss the tournament he excels in due to back surgery. With his main competition out of the competition, Mickelson clearly had a shot at winning another major title. 

However, his 76 in the first round, followed by a 73 in round 2, made him miss the cut, making everyone disappointed. Notably, it was the first time in 17 years he didn’t get to play on the weekend of the Masters. 

Phil Mickelson punished himself for letting everyone down

Mickelson lost the chance to advance to the final rounds by one shot, and that hurt the golfer immensely. After all, the golfer had never experienced such a feeling in almost two decades. 

“Probably,” Mickelson replied when reporters asked him after 36-holes whether he would stay at the Augusta National to watch the rest of the tournament. “It’s an exciting tournament,” he added. “I probably will,” the golfer firmly stated this time. “It will kind of be my punishment.” 

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In his 17 consecutive starts at the Augusta National from 1998 to 2014, Mickelson has won the green jacket thrice; in 2004, 2006, and 2010. Notably, he made it to the top 25 every year, except in 2011 (T27) and 2013 (T54), during this period. 

Has the three-time Masters Champion ever missed the tournament as a professional golfer? 

After turning professional in 1992, Phil Mickelson couldn’t attend the Masters Tournament thrice in his career; in 1992, 1994, and 2022. 

Notably, he missed the major this year after he made controversial comments about the LIV Golf officials and PGA Tour officials. “Phil reached out to me,” the Augusta National chairman said during the press meet about Mickelson’s absence at the event. “…and let me know that he did not intend to play,” he added. “That was by way of a text.” 

Mickelson has always tried to be a part of the Augusta event most of the time. That is why he got hurt when he couldn’t make the cut in 2014 and wanted to punish himself by watching it till the end. 

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