5 big players who are missing the 2023 Masters

Modified Apr 03, 2023 18:02 GMT

Valero Texas Open - Previews — Rickie Fowler hopes to play the 2023 Masters ended as he failed to win the Valero Texas Open,

We are in the 2023 Masters week now and most of the top golfers around the world will tee off on Thursday, April 6 at Augusta National.

However, there are a few famous names on the professional circuit who have failed to qualify for the first major of the season.

Five big players missing Masters 2023

1) Webb Simpson

Webb Simpson is set to miss the 2023 Masters

Webb Simpson has struggled with his form of late. Prior to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he struggled to finish even in the top 50 for eight months and slipped outside the top 140 in the Official World Golf rankings.

Last month, he finished in a tie for 24th place at Bay Hill and a T7 at the Valspar but that was not sufficient for the 2018 Players Champion to secure a spot in the Masters.

2) Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood joined the LIV Golf last July

It's a pity that a player like Lee Westwood has never won a green jacket. He has six top-ten finishes in 20 appearances at Augusta National, including two runner-up finishes.

Westwood, who will be turning 50 this month, joined the breakaway LIV Golf circuit in 2022, thus facing a ban from competing in PGA Tour events which resulted in him dropping down a lot in the rankings and hence could not make it to the upcoming Masters this year.

3) Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler finished T-10 in the 2023 Valero Texas Open

Rickie Fowler has been consistent this year, but there's one thing he is lacking: a victory. His last victory on the PGA Tour came in the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open, four years ago.

To earn a spot at the 2023 Masters, he needed a victory at the Valero Texas Open but had to settle for T-10.

4) Matt Kuchar

Kuchar almost made his way into the 2023 Masters as he posted a 4-under 68 on the final day of the Valero Texas Open but had to settle for a tied third place with two strokes short of Corey Conners.

5) Paul Casey

Paul Casey last competed in Masters in 2021

Casey will miss the Masters for the second year in a row after appearing at Augusta National for 15 straight years.

When the Englishman joined LIV Golf, he was World No. 30. Since then, he has slipped out of the top 100 in OWGR courtesy of the ban on Saudi-backed players. Adding to that, the LIV events are barred from any OWGR points.