Despite being eligible to play in The Open Championship, Phil Mickelson will not compete in the final major of 2026 that is set to take place next month at Royal Birkdale Golf Club at Southport, England.
Mickelson, 56, has been moved from the list of this year’s competitors to the tournament’s list of non-playing exempt players. The tournament will take place July 16-19.
The designation means that Mickelson will not play in any of the four major tournaments this year, marking the first time he has missed all of them in a single year since 1990, which was two years before he turned professional.
A six-time major winner, Mickelson won The Open Championship in 2013, earning him an exemption to play in the event until he turns 60.
Mickelson has played in just one LIV Golf tournament this year before taking a break to tend to an unspecified family health matter. He did not play in the Masters or the PGA Championship for the same reason and was not extended a special invitation to play in this month’s U.S. Open.
Since he has been out of action, multiple reports have detailed incidents of Mickelson making unwanted advances toward women, including the former wife of player Pat Perez, when the couple was still married.
The reports also indicated that Mickelson has parted ways with three separate golf clubs in the San Diego area.
–Field Level Media
