High-profile absences define British Open field at Royal Birkdale
The last major of the season proceeds without several of the sport’s most prominent figures, as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson miss all four majors this year, while Dustin Johnson and Tony Finau also withdraw.
The British Open at Royal Birkdale is proceeding without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, two of the game’s most dominant figures who have now missed all four major championships this season. Their absence from the final major of the year underscores a significant shift in the competitive landscape, with Woods remaining away from competition following legal troubles and Mickelson stepping back due to personal and professional controversies.
Woods was arrested and charged with a drink-driving offence and property damage in Florida earlier this year after colliding with a pickup truck. He subsequently sought treatment in Switzerland and has not publicly addressed the incident. Although he was spotted in Connecticut in June assisting with the introduction of the PGA Tour’s new schedule announcement, he has not returned to competitive play. Woods, a three-time British Open champion who last won in 2006, has faced physical setbacks in recent years, including back surgery and an Achilles rupture in 2025.
Mickelson’s absence stems from a family health matter that prompted him to step away from competition in April. He has also faced controversy regarding an incident at a Southern California golf club, where he was reportedly expelled following allegations of inappropriate conduct with a staff member. Mickelson, who won the Open in 2013, has played in only one LIV Golf event this season, and it remains unclear when he will return to the professional circuit.
Dustin Johnson has also withdrawn from the tournament, opting instead to compete in the Senior British Open later in the month. The former world number one lost his past exemption after winning the 2020 Masters and had to qualify for the event, but pulled out of the final qualifying stage citing an inability to play four consecutive weeks. Johnson, who turned 50 earlier this year, has found success on the PGA Tour Champions, winning back-to-back starts including the Kaulig Companies Championship.
Tony Finau is another high-profile absentee, having missed all four majors this season for the first time in over a decade. The American has dropped to number 123 in the Official World Golf Rankings and has recorded only one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this year. Finau, who finished third at the British Open in 2019, has struggled with consistency recently, missing two of his last three cuts at the venue.
Zach Johnson is also not participating in the event at Royal Birkdale. Like Johnson, the American golfer has turned 50 this year and has been competing on the senior circuit, where he has secured recent victories. The collective absence of these players marks a notable departure from the usual star power associated with the Open Championship.
