The next stop for the PGA Tour players is The American Express 2026. This week’s event will start with its first round on Thursday, Jan. 22, and will run through the weekend to wrap with the finale on Sunday.
The field features some top-ranked golfers, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, while some big names will be missing from the field, including Rory McIlroy and others.
Below are five big names who will be missing from The American Express 2026.
5 big-name golfers missing from The American Express 2026
#1 Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy has been busy playing on the DP World Tour and will miss this week’s The American Express. He is scheduled to play at the Dubai Desert Classic this week. The Northern Irish golfer had started the 2025 season on the PGA Tour at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and will return to defend his title in the Signature event this year as well. He has missed the Sony Open in Hawaii and is also not playing this week on the PGA Tour.
#2 Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood is another big name missing from the field of The American Express 2026. The English golfer is also committed to playing at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic this week and will miss the PGA Tour event. He had an incredible season on the PGA Tour last year, where he won his maiden event on the circuit at The Tour Championship. Fans are anxiously waiting to see how things will unfold for him in the new season.
#3 Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland is also not playing The American Express. The Norwegian golfer will tee off on the DP World Tour this week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and will miss the PGA Tour event. Hovland has also missed the Sony Open in Hawaii.
#4 Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele has yet to play his first tournament of the new season. He will also miss The American Express. The American golfer is committed to tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open, which is scheduled to take place from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1.
#5 Brooks Koepka
Another big name who will miss The American Express 2026 is Brooks Koepka. The five-time major winner had returned to play on the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf ahead of the 2026 season. However, fans will still need to wait one more week to see him playing on the Tour. He is committed to play at the Farmers Insurance Open next week and will miss this week’s event.
