8 Golf Legends Skip The Open 2026 — Including Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods

The 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale is missing something big — eight legendary and rising names won't be teeing it up at Southport this year. From Phil Mickelson's shocking four-for-four major absence amid family health struggles and new allegations, to Tiger Woods not even submitting an entry as his DUI case looms, to Sergio Garcia's qualifying collapse blamed on a bad lasagna — this year's field is missing a piece of golf history. We break down the heartbreak, controversy, injury, and exhaustion behind every absence: Mickelson, Woods, Garcia, Zach Johnson, Will Zalatoris, Tony Finau, Danny Willett, and Elvis Smylie. Royal Birkdale will still crown a champion on July 19th — but the ghosts of who's NOT there will hang over every shot. #TheOpen #OpenChampionship #RoyalBirkdale #Golf #PGATour #TigerWoods #PhilMickelson