7 Big Names Missing The 2026 AIG Women's Open
Which star names and notable players are not teeing it up this week at Royal Lytham and St Annes?
The final Major of 2026 is already upon us as the world's best female golfers take on the challenge of Royal Lytham and St Annes to contest the AIG Women's Open.
The iconic links course hosts for the first time since Georgia Hall won in 2018, and this week it's Miyu Yamashita defending the trophy after sealing her maiden Major title at Royal Porthcawl last year.
World No.1 Nelly Korda is tournament favorite after winning both the Chevron Championship and US Women's Open this season, with fellow 2026 two-time Major winner Hae Ran Ryu also tipped to contend.
Then there's a strong cast of challengers including home favorites Lottie Woad and Charley Hull along with Jeeno Thitikul, Hannah Green, Hyo Joo Kim and many others.
But what about the notable players not in the 2026 AIG Women's Open field? Here's a look at some of the big names who failed to qualify or are simply not teeing it up:
Lexi Thompson
Just a month after her incredible US Women's Open streak ended, Lexi Thompson misses her second consecutive AIG Women's Open.
The 2014 ANA Inspiration (now Chevron Championship) winner only played in one Major this year, the Chevron, after announcing her semi-retirement from pro golf in 2024.
From 12 AIG Women's Open appearances, the popular American had a solid-if-unspectacular record with six top-20s and one top-10 finish.
Madelene Sagstrom
Madelene Sagstrom played in the US Women's Open last month while seven-months pregnant, and then played again the following week at the Dow Championship where she and Maja Stark finished an impressive T9th.
The Swede is now taking time away from the professional game as she becomes a mother, missing this event for the first time since 2016.
She came close to winning in 2021 at Carnoustie, where she ended one stroke back of compatriot Anna Nordqvist in T2nd. She was also T4th in 2022.
Ingrid Lindblad
Sagstrom's fellow Swede Ingrid Lindblad misses her first Major in two years, and first since turning professional.
The former World No.1 amateur, who played this event for the first time at the age of 19 in 2019, has struggled on Tour this year with a best finish of T21st from 13 starts.
She is on a run of three missed cuts and has dropped to 91st in world, having been 40th this time last year.
She still may get a tee time, though, as she is currently first reserve for the field after missing out in a playoff at Final Qualifying.
Emily Pedersen
European Solheim Cup star Emily Pedersen broke a bone in her left wrist earlier this year so has had a tricky season.
The Dane returned to action at the Mizuho Americas Open in May but has managed a 54th-place and four missed cuts in her five starts since.
She has fallen to 240th in the world and looks set to miss out on a potential fifth appearance for Team Europe, having not played in any of the Majors this year.
Pedersen ended one-stroke shy of a playoff at Final Qualifying to miss out.
Moriya Jutanugarn
Moriya Jutanugarn misses her first AIG Women's Open since 2014.
The Thai star, and older sister of Ariya, has only played in two of the five Majors this year; the Chevron and KPMG Women's PGA Championships.
She has one top-10 from her 12 AIG Women's Open starts.
Stacey Lewis
Stacey Lewis bid farewell to the professional game last year, meaning she is not competing this week despite being eligible for the field.
The former World No.1 and 2024 winning Solheim Cup captain won this event at St Andrews in 2013, which was her second Major title after the 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship (now Chevron Championship).
Lewis played in 16 AIG Women's Opens, with one win and three other top-eight finishes. She was T50th last year at Porthcawl in her final Major start.
Miranda Wang
Miranda Wang misses her first Major of the year and first since 2024 this week.
The 27-year-old Chinese star has fallen from 42nd to 67th in the world rankings after a run of six consecutive missed cuts.
Wang, who beat Jeeno Thitkul to win her maiden LPGA Tour title at the FM Championship in 2025, has missed her last six Major cuts after finishing T19th at the KPMG Women's PGA last year.
Other notables missing the 2026 AIG Women's Open
(World ranking)
- Hyunjo Yoo (45th)
- Kyo Rim Seo (51st)
- Yui Kawamoto (52nd)
- Shinsil Bang (58th)
- Jiwon Ko (60th)
- Ai Suzuki (62nd)
- Seung Hui Ro (64th)
- Hyunkyung Park (66th)
- Dayeon Lee (68th)
- Ye Won Lee (72nd)
- Jungmin Hong (73rd)
- Sora Kamiya (80th)
- Yujin Sung (81st)
- Chia Yen Wu (93rd)
- Miyuu Abe (97th)
- Shihyun Kim (98th)
- Sarah Schmelzel (111th)
- Alexa Pano (169th)
- Olivia Cowan (191st)
- Gabriella Ruffels (192nd)
- Nuria Iturrioz (197th)
- Gemma Dryburgh (215th)
- Emma Spitz (228th)
- Andrea Revuelta (a)
