The Masters will be without several stars this week for a variety of reasons. Tiger Woods announced that he is stepping away from golf after a recent car accident and arrest.
Others like Rickie Fowler failed to qualify to play in the Masters. Count Tony Finau among this unfortunate list of stars who is also not playing at the Masters.
It appeared as though Finau was making a run at the Valero Texas Open. A win would have punched Finau’s ticket to the Masters.
Finau headed into the weekend in contention but a brutal final round 78 dropped the star all the way down to a T49 finish at the Valero Texas Open. The golfer needed to win the tournament in order to qualify for the Masters.
Instead, Finau will now turn his attention to the PGA Championship on May 14, 2026, the next major on the PGA Tour schedule. Finau will also need to qualify to play in the PGA Championship as well.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Masters news.
Tony Finau Will Not Play in the Masters After a Brutal Final Round at the Valero Texas Open
Finau burst onto the Masters scene after dislocating his ankle the day before the 2018 tournament. The fan favorite still played after sustaining an unfortunate injury while celebrating a hole-in-one during the annual par-3 event.
Since then, Finau has amassed quite a resume, earning more than $46 million and notching six PGA Tour wins. Here’s hoping Finau will be in the 2027 Masters field.
Tony Finau Describes Playing in the Masters as a ‘Holy Spiritual Experience’
It is a particularly brutal blow as Finau has been open about his affinity for Augusta National. Finau previously described playing in the Masters as a “spiritual experience.”
“Yeah, I love I love Augusta National,” Finau said in April 2024, per ABC 4 Utah. “It’s a golf course when I first played it and got on grounds, it’s just one of those places that give you almost like a holy spiritual experience.
“It really is like one of the holy grails of golf, and so I feel that every time I’m there, it’s just a special, special feeling I’ll never take for granted.”
Phil Mickelson Is Among the Stars Who Will Not Play the Masters
Phil Mickelson is another star who announced that he will not play in the Masters. Mickelson announced that his family is dealing with a health issue that will keep him away from Augusta National.
In addition to Woods, Fowler, Mickelson and Finau, other notable names who will be absent from Augusta National include Will Zalatoris, Billy Horschel and Tom Kim among others.
“Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter,” Mickelson explained in an April 2, Instagram post.
“I have great respect for Augusta National Golf Club and it is definitely the most special week of the year. I wish everyone the best of luck and will be watching.”
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