12 stars missing from PGA Championship line-up with Tiger Woods and ex-champ absent
The PGA Championship is set to return this week with several golf stars already confirming their absence from the legendary tournament.
The 2026 PGA Championship is set to commence this week but will do so without the presence of several huge stars. With Scottie Scheffler will look to defend the title he won last year and Rory McIlroy aiming to win the event for a third time, two former champions won't be gracing the tournament.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are the two biggest names that won't compete at Aronimink Golf Club. Woods, a five-time victor, was also absent from the Masters last month, with the 50-year-old now taking a brief break away from golf.
In the case of two-time winner Mickelson, the LIV Golf star has played in just one event this season as he announced his withdrawal from the event due to "a personal health matter with his family", according to organisers. His family situation also saw 'Lefty' miss out on the Masters with a timetable not set on his return to action.
Alongside the blow of Woods and Mickelson not making the event, fans will also have to contend with numerous stars watching from afar despite the PGA Championship having the largest field of all four majors, with 156 players. The tournament is also regarded as the strongest field in the sport, given every player in the world's top 100 usually plays, barring extenuating circumstances.
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A two-time runner-up at the second major of the year, Sergio Garcia won't get the opportunity to finally capture victory as he will miss the event for the third time in the last four years. The Spaniard has only featured in the tournament once since 2022 with his world ranking of 184th far below the required standard.
Tony Finau currently sits as the fifth alternate for the major. Despite never winning a major, he enjoyed a stunning run of 33 consecutive appearances in the four events which ended at the Masters last month. The six-time PGA Tour winner is ranked 117th in the world and so too misses out.
An injury-hit few years for Will Zalatoris means the 29-year-old sits at 334th in the world with his last major appearance coming at the PGA Championship last year. With just four tournaments played this season, it seems like a lifetime ago when he finished runner-up in the major back in 2022.
Despite 11 LIV Golfers competing in the tournament this week, Carlos Ortiz is not one of them. The Mexican ace enjoyed a career-best major finish at last year's US Open, where he finished joint-fourth. However, with a world ranking of 172nd, a chance to better his record won't come at Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
Tom Kim's run of four consecutive PGA Championship appearances will come to an end this year. The Korean star has endured a surprising loss of form over the last year and is currently ranked 142nd in the world. The 23-year-old's namesake - Anthony Kim - wasn't handed an invitation to the event which would have marked his first major appearance in 15 years.
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Following his return to golf in 2024 after a 12-year hiatus, he enjoyed a stunning victory at LIV Golf Adelaide where he beat off Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Louis Oosthuizen has an impressive pedigree in major tournaments, having won The Open and finished second twice in the PGA Championship but his world ranking of 351st will see him miss out.
Despite having four LIV event wins to his name, Talor Gooch's lack of accumulated world ranking points has left him a staggering 992nd in the world. His last appearance at this week's major came in 2024, where finished T60. Lucas Herbert sits 89th in the world and even secured his place in the US Open this summer - but won't compete in the PGA Championship.
His victory at LIV Virginia banked him a place in the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club while also picking up the £2.9million ($4m) winner's prize money. British golfer Ian Poulter's absence won't come as much as a surprise given his last participation in a major came in 2022 at the PGA Championship and The Open.
Top players missing the 2026 PGA Championship (selected names): Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris, Carlos Ortiz, Tom Kim, Anthony Kim, Louis Oosthuizen, Talor Gooch, Lucas Herbert, Ian Poulter.
