Phil Mickelson withdraws from the 2026 PGA Championship because of a personal health issue

Phil Mickelson to Miss 2026 PGA Championship

Phil Mickelson won’t be participating in the upcoming 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, set for next week.

The six-time major champion was originally on the list of players expected to compete in this second major of the season. However, the tournament confirmed on Tuesday that Mickelson has withdrawn, citing “personal health issues with his family.”

This isn’t the first time Mickelson has stepped back from a major; he also missed this year’s Masters for similar reasons.

His absence clears the way for Max Homa to take his place in the field of 154 competitors, which is led by the defending champion, Scottie Scheffler.

Besides the Masters, Mickelson has also sat out five of the six LIV Golf events this year. His only appearance came in March when he finished T48 at the LIV South Africa event.

Interestingly, Mickelson’s ongoing withdrawals from LIV and major tournaments come during a time when the future of the Rebel Tour is uncertain, especially after news that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will stop its funding.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neill expressed his support for Mickelson, saying, “I just want to be really sensitive. We all have personal things going on in our lives and he’s no different. I have a lot of love and respect for him as a person and certainly for what he’s accomplished in his career. His presence really helps. I hope he’s back soon.”

O’Neill continued, “I miss his presence at events. He carries a weight when he walks into any room. It’s not just because he’s a six-time major champion; he has a gravitas. It’s something much more than winning. Of course, he’s one of the people who helps me.”

In another related note, Tiger Woods, who faced legal issues for drunk driving in March and has since entered a treatment program in Switzerland, is also absent from next week’s match. This marks the first time since 1994 that neither Woods nor Mickelson will be at Augusta National for the Masters.

On a different note regarding the PGA Championship, two-time major champion Dustin Johnson has been given a special exemption to compete, even though his eligibility lapsed last year. Johnson, who leads LIV’s 4Aces team and is currently ranked 468th in the Official World Golf Rankings, will be making his 68th consecutive major appearance. He has only missed three Grand Slam events due to personal reasons or injury during this stretch. Johnson last placed T33 at the Masters in April.