The 2026 PGA Championship has arrived, and the stage is set for an unforgettable week at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia. The field is stacked with talent, headlined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler as the betting favorite and two-time reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy nipping at his heels. Several LIV Golf stars are also in the mix, promising plenty of drama on the course.
Yet, despite the star-studded lineup, two of golf's most iconic figures will be notably absent: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Their absence leaves a void that fans will feel deeply as the tournament unfolds.
Tiger Woods remains away from competitive golf after a troubling incident earlier this year. In March, Woods was involved in a rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida, when his Range Rover collided with a pickup truck. While no injuries were reported, Woods was arrested and charged with DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. He has since pleaded not guilty and stepped away from the game to seek treatment. This latest setback adds to a long road of recovery for Woods, who was already rehabbing a ruptured Achilles and recovering from back surgery in 2025. He did make a brief return to play in the TGL indoor final in March, but his competitive future remains uncertain.
Woods, a three-time PGA Championship winner with back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, last played this major in 2024 but missed the cut. His absence at Aronimink—and at the Masters last month—underscores the challenges he continues to face on his journey back to the course.
Phil Mickelson, meanwhile, is also sitting this one out while dealing with a personal family health matter. The six-time major champion has played sparingly this season, appearing in just one LIV Golf event—the tournament in South Africa. Before the Masters, Mickelson announced he was stepping away from the game for the time being, offering no further details. He was initially listed in the PGA Championship field but withdrew, leaving fans to wonder when they might see the lefty legend again.
For now, the spotlight at Aronimink shifts to the next generation of stars, but the echoes of Woods and Mickelson remind us of the rich history that makes this major so special.