Wales is about to witness a showdown like never before, the season’s final major and one of the most prestigious stages in women’s golf. With an impressive lineup of champions and rising stars ready to battle for a share of the $9.5 million purse. Big names are teeing it up with plenty to prove: Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko wanting to return to the winners circle, and Lottie Woad riding the high of her ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open win, all ready to shake up the leaderboard. It’s rare to see players skip the season’s final major, yet this year, a few big names won’t be teeing it up at Royal Porthcawl.

Danielle Kang

Danielle Kang won’t be teeing it up at Royal Porthcawl, and honestly, it feels like the story of her season. Once a fixture at big events, she’s had a rough run in 2025—twelve starts, seven missed cuts, and even a mid‑tournament withdrawal at the Black Desert Championship. The results just haven’t been there, and when it came to qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open, the door didn’t open for her either.

It’s a strange sight, considering this is the same player who’s captured six LPGA titles, including the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Her game might be quiet now, but her absence will still echo across Royal Porthcawl this week. Fans know she’s capable of turning things around, but for now, she’ll be watching this one from the sidelines.

Lexi Thompson

Lexi Thompson not being in the AIG Women’s Open field isn’t much of a shock. She confirmed this year that she’d be stepping back from a full‑time schedule, and that shift is showing in her choices this season. She skipped the Amundi Evian Championship and passed on the ISPS Handa Scottish Open, a tournament many players use to warm up for Royal Porthcawl.

It’s not about form; Lexi’s played eight events in 2025 and even notched two top‑10 finishes. This feels more like a player choosing her own pace, putting more energy into life away from the course. She’s not out of the picture by any means, but this year, she’s letting others battle it out at the season’s final major.

Emily Kristine Pedersen

Emily Kristine Pedersen won’t be teeing it up at the AIG Women’s Open this year, and her season explains why. It’s been a tough run, with inconsistent results keeping her out of the spotlight. She missed the cut at the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and across 12 starts this season, she hasn’t managed to break into the top 10.

Even at the ISPS Handa Scottish Open, the event where many players used to sharpen their game for this major, Pedersen could only manage a tie for 50th. It’s clear this hasn’t been her year, and her absence at Royal Porthcawl is a reminder of just how competitive the field is right now.

Alison Lee

She won’t be in the 2025 AIG Women’s Open; in fact, she hasn’t teed it up anywhere this season. The reason is far more joyful than competitive. In late April, she welcomed her first child and is taking time off to focus on motherhood, with eyes on a potential return to full-time golf in 2026. Before stepping away, her 2024 season showed just how strong her game still was: 19 events, 4 top-10 finishes, and cuts made in 13 of them. She left on a high note, and fans will be eager to see her back when she’s ready.

Mone Inami

This absence doesn’t come as a surprise. She hasn’t teed it up at all in 2025, and the struggles go back to last season. In 2024, she played 18 events, missed the cut in 10 of them, withdrew from two, and only made the weekend in six. As for why she’s skipped the entire 2025 season, there’s been no official explanation. Whatever the reason, her absence at Royal Porthcawl feels more like a continuation of a difficult stretch rather than a sudden shock.

With such a stacked field at Royal Porthcawl, the absence of these names adds some intrigue, though there aren’t too many shocking omissions this year. The door is wide open for fresh contenders to seize the spotlight, and in a major where history is always up for grabs, the stage is set for someone new to make their mark. The season’s final major might be missing a few familiar faces, but it certainly won’t be short on drama.