Aaron Wise Withdraws From Masters to Focus on Mental Health

Aaron Wise, the 2018 PGA Tour rookie of the year, has withdrawn from the 2023 Masters to take a break from competition and focus on his mental health. 

The 26-year-old took to Instagram on Friday to announce his tough decision to miss the first major championship of the season. 

"Regretfully, I am withdrawing from The Masters today. Golf is just as much a mental game as it is one of physical skill, and the mental piece of it has been a struggle for me recently. I don’t take the significance of playing at Augusta lightly, but know that I need to take some time away to focus on my mental health so I can get back to competing at a level I am proud of,” Wise wrote.

 “This hurts, but it’s needed. See you all soon,” he added. 

Wise was once one of the top high school golf recruits in the country and eventually landed at the University of Oregon, where he won the D-I NCAA individual title. After two seasons, Wise turned professional. He won the 2018 AT&T Byron Nelson Championship, but since his maiden victory he has yet to re-enter the winner’s circle. Since the beginning of the 2023 season, Wise has missed four of seven cuts.

He had qualified for the Masters by finishing 2022 inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He is currently ranked No. 45 in the OWGR and SIWGR.