Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson among past champions not playing 2026 British Open
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 28, 2026, 5:11 PM
Last updated Jun 28, 2026
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, both past champions, will not compete in the 2026 Open Championship. Woods has not participated in an event since the 2024 Open, while Mickelson, originally on the R&A's exempt list, has withdrawn. Other notable past champions absent include Ben Curtis, John Daly, and Ernie Els. The R&A's list identifies nine players who either did not enter or have since withdrawn from the tournament, which has sparked discussions about their current standings in the golf world.
- •Tiger Woods last competed at the 2024 Open Championship.
- •Phil Mickelson was initially on the R&A's exempt list.
- •Nine past champions will miss the 2026 Open Championship.
- •Other notable absentees include Ben Curtis and John Daly.
- •Past champions are exempt from the Open until age 60.
- 5:11 PMYahoo Sports — Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson among 9 past champions not playing 2026 British Open
"Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have a combined four Open Championship titles but both are out of the 2026 event.
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