Rory McIlroy suffers double blow ahead of Masters title defence

Jack Otway
Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:04:07 +0000

Rory McIlroy will preside over the most important dinner of his golfing career this Tuesday at Augusta, though the celebration will be tinged with disappointment.

The Northern Irishman earned the privilege of hosting the Masters Champions Dinner after finally capturing the Green Jacket last year, ending an 11-year quest to complete the career Grand Slam.

However, the gathering on April 7 will be missing two of the tournament's most iconic figures.

Augusta National has confirmed that neither Tiger Woods nor Phil Mickelson will be present, marking the first occasion since 1994 that both champions have been absent from the traditional pre-tournament dinner.

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The Masters itself begins on April 9.

Augusta National has officially confirmed that Woods will not compete in or attend this year's event.

The 15-time major champion is taking time away from the sport to focus on his health and treatment following a car crash and subsequent arrest for driving under the influence.

Woods and McIlroy share a close friendship, with the American serving as a childhood hero to the Northern Irishman.

The pair co-founded the TGL golf league and have both played significant roles in the PGA Tour's ongoing negotiations with the Public Investment Fund and LIV Golf.

Before his crash, Woods had expressed his intention to be at Augusta regardless of whether he was competing, specifically to attend McIlroy's dinner.

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Mickelson has withdrawn from the 2026 Masters entirely due to a family health matter, explaining his absence from the dinner.

Together, Woods and Mickelson have claimed eight Green Jackets between them and have been prominent figures at Augusta for decades.

Woods holds the distinction of being the youngest player ever to win the tournament, whilst Mickelson boasts the record for the most total scores of 280 or better at the venue.

This is the second consecutive Champions Dinner that Woods has missed, having also been absent from Scottie Scheffler's 2025 gathering whilst recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and persistent back issues.

Approximately 32 former champions are expected to gather for the occasion, with golfing legends Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson among those anticipated to attend.

Recent winners including Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama will also be present.

McIlroy has designed a menu priced at $318 per plate, featuring starters such as grilled elk sliders, bacon-wrapped dates inspired by his mother, rock shrimp tempura and a Georgia peach-and-ricotta flatbread.

The main course includes yellowfin tuna carpaccio, inspired by New York's Le Bernardin, with guests choosing between Wagyu filet mignon and seared salmon.

Traditional Irish champ accompanies the mains, with sticky toffee pudding served for dessert alongside a 1990 Château Lafite Rothschild and a 1989 Château d'Yquem.