Phil Mickelson has announced he will not compete at next week’s Masters due to an ongoing “family health matter”.

The six-time major winner, who won the Masters in 2004, 2006 and 2010, missed the first four LIV Golf events of the year and said he will remain “out for an extended period of time”.

Mickelson said on his social media sites: “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.

“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.”

Mickelson announced in February that he would miss the opening two LIV Golf tournaments this year – in Riyadh and Adelaide – and later missed events in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Thee 55-year-old returned to action last month at LIV Golf South Africa in Steyn City, where he finished in a tie for 48th place, but questions remained over whether he would make Augusta.

Mickelson, who missed the cut at last year’s Masters, has also won two PGA Championships (2005 and 2021) and triumphed at the Open, at Muirfield, in 2013. This year’s Masters would have been his 33rd start at Augusta. Only seven other players have won the tournament three times.