Defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy has addressed the absence of two notable figures as he prepares to pursue his second consecutive win in the prestigious tournament.
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The annual tournament at Augusta National Golf Club will not have Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson in the lineup as both deal with separate matters.
Woods is focusing on treatment after rolling his SUV and being arrested for DUI. He has announced that he will step away from golf for the time being.
Mickelson will not compete in the Masters after announcing that his family continues to deal with a personal health matter. He did not provide further details but noted that he will watch the prestigious event.
"Unfortunately, there will be a couple of guys that won't be in that room, which is a shame, but I want to make sure that they're acknowledged as well," McIlroy said, per ESPN. "They've been two of the greatest champions that the Masters has ever seen. But it's going to be a really cool night. I can't wait. I hope everyone enjoys the dinner and enjoys everything that I've selected."
The tournament will not have Woods and Mickelson — two players who have combined for eight Masters wins — but McIlroy will face a stacked lineup as he tries to win another green jacket.
This group will include such names as Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau. Scheffler won his first green jacket at the 2022 Masters and added another in 2024. He will particularly aim to win another and rise up the historic leaderboard.
The competitor lineup also includes 2018 winner Patrick Reed, Patrick Cantlay, Tommy Fleetwood, 2007 winner Zach Johnson, 2020 winner Dustin Johnson, 2023 winner Jon Rahm and 2012 winner Bubba Watson among others.
First up, however, is the annual pre-Masters dinner. McIlroy had the chance to pick out the menu as the defending winner, and he went with some interesting choices.
The appetizer round will include four items — peach & ricotta flatbread, rock shrimp tempura, grilled elk sliders, and bacon-wrapped dates. The first course will feature yellowfin tuna carpaccio.
The main course will provide a choice of a wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon. The dessert will feature sticky toffee pudding.
