Former Open champion reveals why he's skipping Royal Birkdale

Former Open champion Zach Johnson has revealed he's not playing in the final men's major of the year in a few weeks' time because he "can't play four weeks in a row". 

Golf's oldest major returns to Royal Birkdale for the first time since 2017 over 16-19 July. 

Former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Johnson, 50, is eligible to play in the Open through the age of 60 having clinched the Claret Jug at St Andrews in 2015. 

But the American has decided he won't participate this year because he's prioritising competing in the Kaulig Companies Championship next week at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. 

The 12-time PGA Tour winner also wants to ensure he's in the best physical shape for the Senior Open, which is being being staged at Gleneagles over 23-26 July. 

"I am eligible for the Open," Johnson told reporters after making a strong start to the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour. 

"I am not going to participate this year. "I can't play four weeks in a row. I've already missed – I missed Birmingham (Regions Tradition), which was a major. When was that? March? April? I forget. We had a wedding.

"I'm missing the U.S. Senior Open this week. Next week is a major, and then the Senior Open is a major, obviously the very next week after the Open, so I'm not going to play four in a row.”

Johnson isn't the only notable past champion skipping the 2026 Open. 

Phil Mickelson was listed in the field but withdrew on 18 June. 

Days later, Skratch published a bombshell report about the six-time major champion, detailing alleged misconduct over many years. 

Mickelson's camp issueD a lengthy rebuttal yesterday, accusing the publication of an "anonymously sourced drive-by shooting". 

Tiger Woods, 50, is also not playing at Royal Birkdale. 

Woods had expressed optimism in March about potentially playing in some major championships in 2026 but was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after crashing his car near his Florida home. 

The 15-time major champion - who has pleaded not guilty - sought treatment overseas and only recently returned to the United States. 

Woods made his first public appearance since the smash last week as the PGA Tour revealed a new-look schedule for 2028.

Ben Curtis, John Daly, Ernie Els, Todd Hamiltod and Justin Leonard are the other past Open champions who won't be playing at Birkdale. 

Take a look below at the field for the 2026 Open below:

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