Mickelson to miss the Masters

Masters champion Phil Mickelson plays a stroke on the No. 14 hole during Practice Round 3 for the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Tuesday, November 10, 2020.

Three-time champion Phil Mickelson will miss the Masters for the first time since 1994.

The PGA champion is taking time away from the game amid the fallout from comments he made regarding the Saudi-backed Super Golf League,

The Masters website on Monday showed Mickelson listed as a past champion not playing in the April 7-10 event at Augusta National Golf Club.

In February, an author of an upcoming unauthorised biography on Mickelson released excerpts from the book in which the golfer called the Saudis "scary mother**kers" but said he was willing to look past their human rights records to gain leverage with the PGA Tour.

Mickelson apologised for the comments, which he claimed were off the record, and said he planned to take time away from the sport.

As a result of his recent comments, the six-time major champion has lost a number of major sponsors.