The answer is: no. That Tiger Woods won’t tee it up at the PGA Championship this year comes as no surprise. The 15-time major champion is currently recovering from surgery on his left Achilles tendon and has already announced that he will not compete in any major tournaments this season. Still, for many fans, it’s a disappointment. Quail Hollow has been the site of many memorable golf moments – but once again, Woods will be absent. The 49-year-old continues to battle the long-term effects of numerous injuries, and a return to golf’s biggest stages remains uncertain.
Woods isn’t the only prominent name missing this week – several other well-known players are also absent, some for surprising, others for understandable reasons.
Champions Tour over PGA Championship 2025
Notably, five former PGA Champions – John Daly, Y.E. Yang, Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, and David Toms – have chosen not to play in Charlotte, opting instead to compete in the Regions Tradition, a major on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. Since the PGA Championship moved to May in 2019, this type of scheduling conflict had been avoided – until now.
John Daly explained his decision to the Associated Press as follows:
“I can go there and miss the cut and get $6,000. But I’m playing Birmingham. I love Regions. They’re a great sponsor. But why are they scheduling Regions the same week as the PGA Championship, where I can see Brooks [Koepka] and all the guys?”
Why more big names are missing
A number of current top-ranked players are also absent. Billy Horschel, currently ranked No. 24 in the world, is out due to hip surgery and is expected to miss several weeks. Shaun Norris (No. 101) reportedly declined his invitation due to his mother’s health. And Luke Clanton, ranked inside the top 110, is ineligible as an amateur – the PGA Championship is reserved for professionals.