Dustin Johnson will miss the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale after officially withdrawing from Final Qualifying. The decision marks a turning point in his career, teasing the end of a streak that began before social media reshaped golf.

Golf analyst Bob Harig of The Daily Drive first reported the withdrawal after noticing that Johnson's name was no longer on the draw sheet for a final qualifying site for Royal Birkdale.

"Dustin Johnson was said to be on the fence about final qualifying for the Open and has apparently decided not to go," Harig posted on X. "His name is no longer on the draw sheet for Dundonald in Scotland, one of the 4 qualifying venues. 5 players are to come out of each site on Tuesday."

Johnson's five-year exemption for winning the 2020 Masters expired after the 2025 season. And he is currently ranked 210th. In his last 15 major tournaments, he finished inside the top 20 only one time.

He also has never won the Open Championship, with his best finish a tie for second in 2011. That left Final Qualifying at Dundonald, one of four venues each sending five players through, as his only route to Royal Birkdale. He chose not to take it.

Harig, though, clarified the decision is driven by scheduling rather than form.

"I saw his agent at the U.S. Open and it was simply the logistics," Harig wrote, as per GolfMagic. "You go there for 36 holes. Then what? Go home for two weeks to return. LIV not playing over there doesn't help."

This withdrawal will end a streak of 38 consecutive major starts, Johnson’s first miss since the 2017 Masters, when a back injury forced him out before the tournament.

Before this, he'd made the cut in every major he'd started this season — tying for 33rd at the Masters, tying for 44th at the PGA Championship and tying for 32nd at the U.S. Open.

Looking ahead, it remains unclear whether Johnson will attempt to qualify for other majors in 2026, leaving his schedule in question.

Johnson wasn't the only name missing Open Championship Final Qualifying

Fellow LIV Golf player Carlos Ortiz also were not on the tee sheet at the same venue, while David Puig's name was pulled from the field at Royal Cinque Ports.

Both will be missing from the 154th Open Championship, which begins on 16 July.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Guido Migliozzi, and Garrick Higgo also withdrew from their respective qualifying sites, underscoring a wider absence of LIV talent.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout was due to play at Burnham & Berrow but no longer appears in that field either. Guido Migliozzi is off the list at Dundonald. Garrick Higgo, who was entered at Royal Cinque Ports, has also withdrawn.

The reason for the withdrawals is unknown

And the most prominent name to miss out on Royal Birkdale, though, isn't going through Final Qualifying at all. Phil Mickelson, the 2013 Champion, is reportedly not playing the 2026 Open Championship.

The six-time Major Champion kept himself out of every major tournament this season, citing an ongoing family health matter.

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Written by

Md Saife Fida

Edited by

Koushik Biswas