More Heartbreak for Golf Fans: Tiger Woods, Jason Day, and Big Names Miss 2025 U.S. Open
Oakmont, Pennsylvania, 5:15 PM +07, June 10, 2025 – Golf fans are facing yet another wave of disappointment as the U.S. Open, set to commence this Thursday at Oakmont Country Club, will proceed without Tiger Woods, Jason Day, and several other prominent names. With the tournament just days away, the absence of these legends and rising stars dims the excitement surrounding one of golf’s most prestigious events, leaving the spotlight on defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and contenders like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner with three U.S. Open titles, will miss his third consecutive major and fourth in five years due to ongoing health struggles. The 49-year-old underwent Achilles surgery in March after a training injury, following back surgery last September and a personal loss with his mother’s passing. His last competitive outing was at The Open last summer, and with recovery uncertain, fans are left wondering if 2025 might mark his extended hiatus from the sport.
Joining Woods on the sidelines is Jason Day, the 2015 PGA Championship winner and former world No. 1. The Australian, who has five top-10 U.S. Open finishes including a solo second in 2011, withdrew from recent events due to illness and a neck injury, casting doubt on his participation. Despite a strong T8 finish at the Masters earlier this year, Day’s recent withdrawal from The Players Championship due to a severe stomach bug suggests he may not be fit for Oakmont, disappointing fans eager to see him chase a second major.
Other notable absentees include Sergio Garcia, who missed qualification by one stroke at a Dallas event, ending his U.S. Open streak since 2000. Max Homa, once ranked 10th globally, slipped to 90th and lost a playoff at Kinsale Golf Club. Billy Horschel is out post-hip surgery, Will Zalatoris recovers from back surgery, and Rickie Fowler, a former world No. 4, also missed qualification in Ohio. Alex Noren and Luke Clanton, the latter turning pro and failing to qualify, round out the list of high-profile exclusions.
DeChambeau aims to defend his Pinehurst triumph, joined by Scheffler and McIlroy, while eight recent U.S. Open champions from 2015 onward will compete. However, the absence of Woods, Day, and others has sparked mixed reactions. Some fans lament the loss of star power, with posts on X reflecting sadness over “missing the Tiger magic,” while others see it as a chance for new talent to shine. The USGA has yet to comment on exemption requests, but the focus now shifts to whether this reshaped field can deliver the drama fans crave at Oakmont.
