The 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club is set to showcase golf’s elite, but several prominent players will be notably absent from the field. From legends sidelined by injury to recent stars who stumbled in qualifying, here are eight big names missing this year’s championship:
1. Tiger Woods
The 15-time major champion and three-time U.S. Open winner will miss his fourth U.S. Open in five years due to injury. Woods underwent surgery on a ruptured Achilles in March, ruling him out for the entire season. His last U.S. Open appearance was in 2024 at Pinehurst, where he missed the cut.
2. Max Homa
Once ranked 10th in the world, Homa has faced a significant decline in form. Despite a strong 2024 start, he failed to qualify for the U.S. Open after a surprising decision to attempt it without a caddie, eventually losing in a playoff.
3. Rickie Fowler
Fowler shot rounds of 70 and 69 at the Columbus, Ohio, qualifier and finished at 5-under par. He missed out on a qualifying spot after losing a playoff and then missed again in a playoff for an alternate position.
4. Sergio García
The 2017 Masters champion failed to qualify after a costly three-putt bogey on the 36th hole of his Dallas qualifier. Unless he receives a special exemption, this ends his streak of 25 consecutive U.S. Open appearances.
5. Padraig Harrington
The three-time major winner fell one shot short of a playoff in Columbus. A late bogey on the 17th hole cost him a potential spot in the championship.
6. Adam Hadwin
Hadwin shot 72-71 and finished four strokes out of a playoff. It’s his second missed major of the year after playing in all four last season.
7. Nicolai Højgaard
The Danish talent failed to qualify at the Emerald Dunes qualifier in Florida. Despite a promising start, he couldn’t hold on for a spot in this year’s field.
8. Luke Clanton
Clanton earned a U.S. Open exemption by winning the 2024 Mark H. McCormack Medal as the world’s top amateur, but forfeited the spot by turning pro ahead of the RBC Canadian Open.
While these big names won’t be competing, the 2025 U.S. Open is still packed with star power and rising talent—ready to take on the historic challenge of Oakmont.